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Salma Paralluelo (centre) celebrates scoring Barcelona’s fourth goal at Stamford Bridge - Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Chelesa 1 Barcelona 4 (Agg 2-8)
This was supposed to be the season Chelsea finally found a way to beat Barcelona.
Each year they have gotten closer to the European Champions. They had lost out by a single goal in successive campaigns, although it was last season, where they won away from home and lost out to a penalty in the return leg, where they really gave Barcelona a scare.
Their domination in the Women’s Super League, where they remain unbeaten, new manager Sonia Bompastor’s experience in Europe and a spending spree in January had given optimism that this was their time to win a first Champions League trophy.
But after two heavy defeats in each leg, they look further away from Barcelona than they ever have.
The Catalans were merciless at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had created two clear goal-scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes, of which they took neither, that could have helped mount a possible comeback. But Aitana Bonmati ended all hope of a miracle when, after being given the freedom of Stamford Bridge, she made it 5-1 on aggregate after 25 minutes. Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina made it 3-0 before half-time, then a defensive calamity saw Salma Paralluelo add a fourth in the closing stages to end Chelsea’s quadruple hopes in humiliating fashion. Barcelona could have had more in the second half were it not for three impressive saves from Hannah Hampton. Wieke Kaptein’s consolation goal at least gave the home fans something to celebrate.
For all the money Chelsea have spent on their squad, they still looked light up front and weak at the back. The continued absence of Sam Kerr, who has not featured since December 2023 due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, has not been felt more keenly than in these two legs. Chelsea have coped well without Kerr but in both of these games they were crying out for her goalscoring instinct in the box. Lauren James, who has been sidelined since the international break with a hamstring injury, was also a big miss. Chelsea still had plenty of options but none of them were as good as the forwards Barcelona were able to call upon.
Naomi Girma, Chelsea’s record signing, made her first start in the Champions League but she is not yet fully fit. Across the two legs, Chelsea’s backline simply could not cope with Barcelona’s attacking threats.
As bad as this was for Chelsea, it does not take the shine off what has been a largely impressive first season for Bompastor. They could still end the campaign with three trophies, including a sixth successive league title. The more time Bompastor has, the better her team should become. But the issue is Barcelona show no signs of slowing down. How Cheslea find a way to beat them is a puzzle they are no closer to solving.
Full report to follow . . .
04:19 PM BST
‘The emotions are raw’
Erin Cuthbert on TNT Sports: “The emotions are quite raw right now. They beat us fair and square. We had a good spell for 20 minutes and if you don’t score, Barcelona will go up the other end and hurt you. They were brilliant again today. They are so clinical: three chances and three goals.
“We were playing for a bit of pride [in the second half]. We were 3-0 down and the tie was probably gone because of that but it was about playing with pride.
“We will use this as fuel and motivation. We’ve still got two trophies to play for.”
04:05 PM BST
‘They lost their heads’
Karen Carney says Chelsea “lost their heads” in both legs and that they were “all over the shop” defensively, which gave Barcelona too many opportunities.
Carney added: “It has been so disappointing watching this Chelsea team. They will be sat there thinking we massively got this wrong.”
03:54 PM BST
‘Embarrassing for Chelsea’
Fara Williams is not mincing her words on TNT Sports, saying that the two legs have been “embarrassing” for Chelsea.
03:53 PM BST
Full-time: Chelsea 1 Barca 4 (Agg 2-8)
A grim day for Chelsea and their wait for a first European trophy goes on. As in the first leg, they were totally outclassed by Barcelona, who ease through to yet another European final.
03:50 PM BST
Goal! Chelsea finally score
Kaptein (90+1min): Finally something for the Chelsea fans to cheer. Kaptein delivers a brilliant finish but it is, of course, far too little, far too late.
03:49 PM BST
Goal! Paralluelo completes the rout
Paralluelo (90min): Poor defending again from Chelsea as Charles is caught ball-watching close to the goal and Paralluelo pounces to fire in Barcelona’s fourth.
It’s now Chelsea 0 Barcelona 4 (Agg 1-8)
03:47 PM BST
88min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Then Macario has a decent chance when receiving the ball just inside the box but she takes too long to settle herself when she should have taken the short immediately.
03:46 PM BST
86min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Bronze connects well with the ball at the far post after a Chelsea corner but the header is saved by Coll.
03:43 PM BST
84min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Hampton again delivers a key block as Paralluelo finds herself one-on-one with the Chelsea keeper in the box.
03:41 PM BST
Hampton making important saves
Chelsea have Hannah Hampton to thank for the score staying at 3-0. Two big saves in this second half. Chelsea have at least kept going but it does feel as though Barcelona have eased off somewhat.
03:38 PM BST
79min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Just as the game reaches something of a lull, Barcelona come close to scoring their fourth. A Hampton save quickly followed by a Charles block on the line prevents the visitors’ advantage growing even wider.
03:34 PM BST
75min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Nusken shoots from long range but lacks the power to test Coll as she slips while making contact with the ball.
03:32 PM BST
73min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Both teams looking to counter quickly when they get possession in the middle of the pitch but neither are able to hold onto the ball long enough to carve out a chance.
03:25 PM BST
66min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Great break from Chelsea to give themselves a chance but Macario fires wide. Then Rolfo blocks another shot to give Chelsea a corner – but that just hits the side netting.
03:23 PM BST
64min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Hampton reacts well to stop Barcelona adding another as she saves from Pajor at close range.
03:21 PM BST
61min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Little wonder that the Barcelona fans are already celebrating in the Stamford Bridge stands. They have been absolutely dominant in this match.
03:14 PM BST
55min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Nusken wins back possession on the edge of the box and fires a shot at the Barcelona goal, but – as has often been the case in this match – the shot is high and Coll is untroubled.
03:12 PM BST
53min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Aggie Beever-Jones makes a positive break into the box and appeals for a penalty after being felled. But the referee decides on a Barcelona goalkick.
03:10 PM BST
51min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
Rolfo very nearly scored Barcelona’s fourth there as she found herself in space but her shot goes over the line.
That is now 10 shots from the visitors, compared to five from the hosts, but crucially Barcelona have converted three of them.
03:04 PM BST
46min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
The second half is underway and Sonia Bompastor has turned to her bench, bringing on Lawrence and Beever-Jones in the hope of turning the tide. Or at least limiting the waves of attack.
03:00 PM BST
Half-time verdict: Chelsea playing for pride
Chelsea are just playing for pride now. They gave up after Aitana Bonmati’s goal and Barcelona picked them off with ease. They look in the mood to keep scoring too. Their quarter-final win over Wolfsburg finished with an aggregate score of 10-2. There’s a chance they could better that here if Chelsea don’t get themselves together.
02:51 PM BST
Half-time: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
It is about avoiding humiliation for Chelsea now. Those two quick-fire goals just before the break have ended this as a contest but can the hosts contain the defending champions in the second half? If not, it is going to get even uglier.
02:46 PM BST
45min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 3 (Agg 1-7)
There is the third before half-time! Chelsea are just walking about and Pina has time and space to send a fantastic effort into the top corner.
02:45 PM BST
Goal! Pina makes it three
Pina (43min): Pina is the tournament’s record goal-scorer and another quick break leaves Chelsea exposed. Pina fires in from long range and Hampton can only watch as it hits the back of the net.
Less than two minutes between those goals.
"This could get worse for Chelsea..."
*Narrator voice: It did, indeed, get worse for Chelsea.
Barcelona leading 3-0 at the break after Pina's stunner!
Watch Chelsea v. Barcelona live for free on DAZN & joind the DAZN FanZonehttps://t.co/dIfKpURfZv#UWCLonDAZN#UWCLpic.twitter.com/wMpL5lGbBB
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) April 27, 2025
02:43 PM BST
Goal! Pajor doubles the lead
Pajor (41min): Barcelona pass along the top of the box and then great ball in from Hansen, which Pajor taps in.
Whatever slim hope Chelsea may have had of overcoming the deficit has surely been snuffed out now.
A second goal for Barcelona on the day and it’s now 6-1 on aggregate. Chelsea look defeated and you fear this could get ugly for them.
Anything Pajor touches in the six-yard area turns to goal!
Barça 2-0 up away at Chelsea.
Watch Chelsea v. Barcelona live for free on DAZN & joind the DAZN FanZone
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) April 27, 2025
02:37 PM BST
35min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 1 (Agg 1-5)
So far Barcelona have dealt comfortably with everything Chelsea have thrown at them and the precision of their passing is allowing them to keep possession for decent periods too.
02:30 PM BST
28min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 1 (Agg 1-5)
Chelsea have upped their intensity around the Barcelona goal but still cannot find the net. Baltimore’s tame shot easily stopped by Coll.
02:28 PM BST
Goal! Bonmati extends Barcelona advantage
Bonmati (25min): Barcelona so quick on the counter-attack and Bonmati is gifted loads of space, which she exploits to break clear. She then fires in a beautiful goal from inside the box.
And that is what Barcelona can do! You have to question why Bright backed away from Bonmati there after she had got past Charles. It was an invitation to shoot and Bonmati took it. An uphill battle now, if it wasn’t already!
AITANAAAAAAAA
Barcelona lead in London and are 5-1 up on aggregate after Aitana's solo run and no nonsense finish!
Watch Chelsea v. Barcelona live for free on DAZN & joind the DAZN FanZone
— DAZN Women's Football (@DAZNWFootball) April 27, 2025
02:25 PM BST
23min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
Mayra Ramirez great break down the right but Barcelona then clear.
Thirty seconds later, is forced into a save from Sjoeke Nusken.
Best spell of the game so far from Chelsea.
Two big chances for Chelsea! Baltimore could not get a strong enough connection on her shot then Nusken just seemed to lose balance as she forced Coll into a save. The crowd really getting behind Chelsea here, they need to score while they’re on top.
02:20 PM BST
17min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
Corner to Barcelona after another defensive error from Chelsea – exactly what the hosts will have wanted to avoid.
Bronze passed back to Hannah Hampton but the goalkeeper was not where her defender thought she would be and the ball rolled out for a corner.
Pajor gets a chance from the corner but shoots high, much to Chelsea’s relief.
02:14 PM BST
Promising start from Chelsea
This has been a decent start from Chelsea. They’ve looked lively and are playing some nice stuff. It’s just the final ball that is letting them down.
02:11 PM BST
9min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
Free-kick to the hosts after Lucy Bronze is upended as Barcelona threaten in the Chelsea box – again.
So far the visitors are finding it easier to take play deep into the opponents’ half.
02:07 PM BST
5min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
An early sign of how dangerous Barcelona are as Aitana Bonmati manages to get a shot away, but it sails well over the bar.
02:05 PM BST
3min: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
Sandy Baltimore makes Chelsea’s first incursion towards the visitors’ box but it is dealt with well by Barcelona.
02:01 PM BST
Kick-off: Chelsea 0 Barcelona 0 (Agg 1-4)
Barcelona are lining up in a neon green strip at Stamford Bridge while Chelsea are in their classic blue.
All the formalities are done, including a minute’s silence for Pope Francis, and Pajor gets things underway.
01:46 PM BST
Chelsea’s record signing in from the start
A first start in the Champions League for Chelesa’s record signing Naomi Girma today.
It’s been a difficult start for the United States international. She picked up an injury on her debut and made her return as a second-half substitute in Barcelona last weekend.
They could really do with a big performance from the defender today and she will also be looking to make her mark.
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Chelsea’s Naomi Girma at Stamford Bridge - AP/Dave Shopland
01:43 PM BST
Some more of Bompastor’s pre-match thoughts
01:33 PM BST
Crowd of 25,000 at Stamford Bridge
There should be a good atmosphere in Stamford Bridge, with around 25,000 tickets sold. Can Chelsea finally get past Barcelona? They will need to produce the best performance in their history to reach next month’s final in Lisbon.
01:23 PM BST
Team news
Chelsea Women: Hampton, Bronze, Girma, Bright, Charles, Walsh, Nusken, Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Baltimore, Ramirez
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Lawrence, Mpome, Kaptein, Jean-Francois, Hamano, Reiten, Lola Brown, Macario, Beever-Jones
Barcelona Women: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo, Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas, Hansen, Pajor, Pina
Subs: Gemma Font, Roebuck, Paralluelo, Torrejon, Lopez, Engen, Brugts, Cano, Schertenleib, Fernandez
Sonia Bompastor makes three changes from the side beaten 4-1 in Barcelona last week. Sjoeke Nusken, Niamh Charles and Naomi Girma come in for Wieke Kaptein, Sjoeke Nusken and Nathalie Bjorn.
01:22 PM BST
Bompastor: ‘I still believe in my team’
Can Chelsea overcome a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona?
It’s a huge ask and Sonia Bompastor has made three changes from the side thrashed by Barca last week. Sjoeke Nusken, Niamh Charles and Naomi Girma come in for Wieke Kaptein, Sjoeke Nusken and Nathalie Bjorn.
Barcelona recovered from a missed penalty by Alexia Putellas to take a commanding lead into today’s Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg.
Putellas had her penalty kick saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton in the 12th minute but the Catalan club rallied with a brace by substitute Claudia Pina and one each from Ewa Pajor and Irene Paredes. Sandy Baltimore scored for Chelsea.
“No winning scoreline is enough,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said after the first leg. “There’s huge evidence in soccer that you can’t ever rely on a first-leg lead. We are going to have a beautiful battle over there at Stamford Bridge.”
It was the eighth straight win for defending champions Barcelona in the competition. Barca have scored 40 goals across those eight consecutive wins since losing 2-0 to Manchester City.
Barcelona and Chelsea are meeting in the last four for the third consecutive season, with Barcelona advancing each time.
“I still believe in my team and my players, 100 per cent,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said. “It’ll be difficult, but the main goal is to score early in the return leg. In football everything is possible, so let’s try to win the game and, if we score early, maybe we can put Barcelona under pressure.”
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