The Girls’s Champions League semi-finals start immediately with a blockbuster first-leg conflict at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea host mighty Barcelona in entrance of a 25,000-strong crowd this lunchtime, hoping to safe a constructive end result to take again to the Camp Nou on Thursday. They may even be out for revenge for the 2021 last in Gothenburg, once they have been thrashed 4-0 by rampant Barca.However Chelsea are assured they discovered classes from that heavy defeat and might be massively boosted by a dramatic quarter-final win over holders Lyon, whereas Emma Hayes’ facet are additionally within the thick of the WSL title race and thru to the FA Cup last, having additionally misplaced the League Cup showpiece final month. Shootout hero Ann-Katrin Berger returns immediately as Niamh Charles will get the nod over Lauren James.Dominant Barcelona, who thrashed Roma within the final eight and have received all 25 of their league matches this time period, may have Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas again for the second leg as they appear to succeed in their third successive last. Lucy Bronze and Salma Paralluelo are available in right here. Comply with Chelsea vs Barcelona dwell beneath, with evaluation from Dom Smith on the Bridge.Chelsea vs Barcelona newest newsLive updatesShow newest updates
1682163544Dom Smith at Stamford BridgeTruly, what an outstanding purpose that was from Barcelona — and what a begin from the agency favourites.Caroline Graham Hansen cuts in from the precise, nobody in blue will get remotely near her, and he or she curls into the online from vary. Nightmare begin from the hosts.1682163518GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona | Caroline Graham Hansen 4’4 minutes: What a purpose and what a begin from Barcelona! Hansen cuts in off the precise flank and goes previous a few Chelsea defenders earlier than rifling an unstoppable effort past the despairing Berger and into the again of the online.Chic strike. Reminiscences of Gothenburg coming flooding again…16821633343 minutes: A few good early defensive contributions from Carter for Chelsea as Barca monopolise possession from the off.Chelsea strive an extended ball to launch Sam Kerr on the counter, however Mapi Leon will get there first and is then taken out by the Australian ahead, who will get a warning.16821632452 min: Barcelona settle into some early possession in that putting gold away strip, with Chelsea all in blue.A protracted cross is drilled into the field in the direction of the top of Caroline Graham Hansen, however it’s effectively cleared by Jess Carter.Appears like Chelsea are going with a again 5 this afternoon.1682163104KICK-OFFWe are underway within the Girls’s Champions League semi-finals!Can Chelsea safe a constructive end result to take again to the Camp Nou on Thursday?Jana Adamkova from the Czech Republic is immediately’s referee.Nice noise round Stamford Bridge as this sport will get off and working.1682162946Here come the 2 groups, led out by respective captains Magda Eriksson and Sandra Panos.1682162775Dom Smith at Stamford BridgeThe solar has determined to see by way of the clouds simply forward of kick-off. How considerate. Beautiful day for it.1682162529Final preparations at Stamford Bridge, the place the environment has been constructing very properly certainly.Kick-off is now lower than 10 minutes away!Getty ImagesAction Photographs by way of ReutersAction Photographs by way of Reuters1682162105Dom Smith at Stamford BridgeChelsea have their first-choice centre-back pairing out injured immediately, with Millie Vivid and Canada’s Kadeisha Buchanan each injured.With Pernille More durable and Fran Kirby additionally out, the Blues actually are the strolling wounded. Barcelona maybe not the perfect opponents then… However it might, a minimum of, make a shock Chelsea win really feel all of the sweeter!1682161923Hayes hails inspirational Chelsea captain ErikssonChelsea captain Magda Eriksson begins as typical immediately and Emma Hayes has been effusive in her reward of the Swede this week.Nonetheless, the skipper’s future stays unsure along with her present contract at Stamford Bridge as a result of expire in the summertime.“I might be right here all day to explain every part Magda has performed for this soccer membership, and for me as our captain,” mentioned Hayes.“Collectively we’ve constructed a group that has competed on all fronts. I do know each step of the journey we’ve been on, facet by facet, to push this group to the place it’s.”Chelsea FC by way of Getty Photographs