Erin Cuthbert captained Chelsea and scored in their impressive victory in Barcelona
Chelsea produced a stunning performance at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to beat Barcelona in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final.
It was the first time since February 2019 that Barcelona had been beaten in a competitive fixture at home and it shows the immense progress Chelsea have made in European competition under manager Emma Hayes.
Scotland international Erin Cuthbert scored the winner, firing past goalkeeper Catalina Coll in the first half to finish off a clever team move after Sjoeke Nusken had teed her up inside the box.
There was a huge chance for Barcelona to equalise in the final seconds as former two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas sliced wide from a few yards out and fell to her knees in disbelief.
It capped off a fascinating tactical battle as Chelsea came through an intense period of pressure from Barcelona at the start, before eventually finding space to threaten the hosts.
Hayes set her side up to defend with a back five and it worked a treat as Barca did not record a shot on target.
The hosts thought they had found a breakthrough in the second half when they were awarded a penalty for handball by Kadeisha Buchanan but it was overturned following a video assistant referee [VAR] check as Salma Paralluelo was offside in the build-up.
Chelsea’s good fortune was needed against the defending champions but this was a huge performance from Hayes’ side and will go down as one of their most impressive of her nine-year tenure.
They must try to complete the job in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 27 April (18:30 BST kick-off) against a Barcelona side who have reached the final in four of the past five seasons.
Chelsea upset European favourites in historic win
Hayes said on Friday she was “not thinking about fairytales” in her final season in charge before taking over the US women’s national team – but this felt close to one.
The Women’s Champions League trophy has so far eluded Hayes and her squad, with Barcelona thrashing them 4-0 in the 2021 final and knocking them out in the semi-finals last season.
Barcelona, widely regarded the best team in Europe currently, were favourites on their home turf and excitement rippled through the city on Saturday morning.
With Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati among the many stars on show, the majority of the 36,428 fans in attendance came draped in red and blue, chanting “Barca, Barca, Barca” and expecting their side to deliver.
Barcelona started off as planned, dominating possession, pinning Chelsea in their own half and building pressure through Bonmati, Caroline Graham Hansen and Paralluelo.
But Chelsea’s wing-backs, once they had settled down and worked out Barcelona’s shape, started to find space and cause problems at the other end.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found joy down the right, while Ashley Lawrence was a standout performer on the left, feeding striker Mayra Ramirez and using midfielder Melanie Leupolz to switch the play.
Both sides had created a few half-chances but Chelsea capitalised on their pressure – Nusken spinning in the box and teeing up Cuthbert, whose powerful strike flew into the net.
Barcelona’s Paralluelo and Chelsea’s Ramirez both struck wide from big opportunities late on, after VAR had overturned the penalty decision, but Hayes’ side did enough to cling on for a historic victory in Spain when Putellas’ effort sailed past the post.
It means there could yet be a fairytale ending for Hayes if they can hold on in London next week and book their place in the final for just the second time in the club’s history.
Line-ups
Barcelona Femenino
Formation 4-3-3
13Coll
22Batlle2Paredes23Engen16Rolfö
14Bonmatí21Walsh12Guijarro Gutiérrez
10Graham Hansen7Paralluelo9Caldentey Oliver
13Coll22BatlleSubstituted forBronzeat 63’minutes2ParedesBooked at 83mins23EngenSubstituted forPutellasat 63’minutes16Rolfö14Bonmatí21Walsh12Guijarro GutiérrezBooked at 79mins10Graham Hansen7Paralluelo9Caldentey OliverSubstituted forLópez Serrano Félixat 73’minutesSubstitutes1Paños5Fernández6Pina8Torrejón11Putellas15Bronze19Vilamala24Brugts26Dragoni30López Serrano Félix32Arias34Fernández
Chelsea Women
Formation 3-5-2
24Hampton
7Carter26Buchanan21Charles
19Rytting Kaneryd22Cuthbert8Leupolz6Nüsken12Lawrence
10James35Ramírez
24Hampton7Carter26Buchanan21Charles19Rytting Kaneryd22Cuthbert8Leupolz6Nüsken12Lawrence10JamesSubstituted forMacárioat 73’minutes35RamírezSubstituted forReitenat 90+2’minutesSubstitutes1Musovic4Bright5Ingle9Macário11Reiten14Kirby15Périsset33Beever-Jones40Cox
Referee:Stéphanie Frappart
Live Text
Match ends, Barcelona Femenino 0, Chelsea Women 1.
Second Half ends, Barcelona Femenino 0, Chelsea Women 1.
Attempt missed. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona Femenino) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lucy Bronze with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona Femenino) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea Women).
Attempt saved. Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona Femenino) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexia Putellas.
Hand ball by Catarina Macário (Chelsea Women).
Attempt missed. Niamh Charles (Chelsea Women) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Catarina Macário with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Chelsea Women. Conceded by Fridolina Rolfö.
Substitution, Chelsea Women. Guro Reiten replaces Mayra Ramírez.
Foul by Alexia Putellas (Barcelona Femenino).
Mayra Ramírez (Chelsea Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Alexia Putellas (Barcelona Femenino) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucy Bronze with a cross.
Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona Femenino) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Kadeisha Buchanan (Chelsea Women).
Attempt missed. Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona Femenino) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Caroline Graham Hansen with a cross.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Sjoeke Nüsken (Chelsea Women).
Irene Paredes (Barcelona Femenino) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Irene Paredes (Barcelona Femenino).
