Barcelona play host to the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final tie against Chelsea at Saturday lunchtime.
An ominous test awaits the Blues as they take on the holders who knocked them out of the competition at this stage last season. However, Emma Hayes’ side were far more competitive over the two legs then, compared to the one-sided thrashing they were subjected to in the 2021 final.
Having conqured Europe twice in the last three seasons, Barcelona continue to dominate domestically and have dropped only two points in Liga F in 2023/24 as they canter to another title.
As for Chelsea, knocked out of the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals by Manchester United last weekend, they are locked in a thrilling WSL title battle with Manchester City. However, Europe remains the last unfulfilled ambition for Hayes before she departs the club at the end of the season.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Saturday’s UWCL semi-final first leg.
Barcelona vs Chelsea H2H Record (All Games)
Current Form (all competitions)
|
Barcelona |
Chelsea |
|---|---|
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Barcelona 5-1 Villarreal – 13/04/24 |
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa – 17/04/24 |
|
Levante 0-5 Barcelona – 31/04/23 |
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea – 14/04/24 |
|
Barcelona 3-1 Brann – 28/03/24 |
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea – 31/03/24 |
|
Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona – 24/03/24 |
Chelsea 1-1 Ajax – 27/03/24 |
|
Brann 1-2 Barcelona – 20/03/24 |
West Ham 0-2 Chelsea – 24/03/24 |
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 2, discovery+, discovery+ app |
|
United States |
DAZN |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Barcelona are carrying no injuries into the tie, with head coach Jonatan Giraldez stating at a press conference on Friday: “They are all available to play 90 minutes.”
He is spolit for options in midfield with a pair of Ballon d’Or winners in Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, while England international Keira Walsh is hopeful of a start, and she could come into the side having appeared off the bench in the 5-1 win over Villarreal last weekend.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Brugts, Caldentey.
Club captain Millie Bright is back in contention for Chelsea after recovering from a knee injury, having last played during the 2-2 group stage draw with Real Madrid. Whether she starts is another matter.
Lauren James is also fit to play following earlier doubts about her…
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