Some half-time postbag!
Kirk writes:
I am certainly interested in seeing what, if any changes, Bompastor makes. Chelsea had a good spell but still rarely threatened Coll. Their first shot on target was Beever-Jones’s free-kick in added time at the end of the half.
As Putellas prepared to take her spot-kick, there was a shushing noise rippling around the home crowd as the Barcelona supporters tried to make it as quiet as possible for their talismanic former Ballon d’Or winner. The Chelsea fans – situated at the opposite end of the stadium – were still doing their best to put Putellas off from afar, but Hampton had the save in the bag anyway. That’s one of the most important saves of Hampton’s young career so far.
Chelsea win another corner but nothing comes from it before the referee blows her whistle. Hampton kept Chelsea in the game early on especially with her penalty save against Putellas but Pajor’s strike in the 35th min is what separates the two sides.
45+5 min:The corner comes in and Bronze creates space for herself by pushing away her defender but the ball goes just over her head. Chelsea are pushing for an equaliser before the half-time whistle.
45+3 min:Bronze gets challenged in the box and moments later Bonmatí fouls Cuthbert. The referee blows her whistle for the latter but Bronze is fuming – she wants a penalty but she is not going to get one. But Chelsea still have a dangerous free-kick about 25 yards out … Beever-Jones takes it and forces a big save out of Coll on the keepers left! Big chance for Chelsea and they now have a corner.
45+2 min:Graham Hansen attempts her trademark curler from the right but her shot is high and wide.
45 min:It is all a bit scrappy now. Cuthbert gets fouled and Bompastor wants a yellow for Guijarro but the referee pays no mind to the head coach. We will be getting at least 6 minutes of added time in this half.
43 min:The Barcelona men’s team star Lamine Yamal is in the crowd here, willing the hosts on from the front row of the VIP section just to the left of the press seats.
40 min:Paredes gets in a foot race with Ramírez after a long ball and the Barcelona centre-back manages to get to it first. The striker then gets back and tries to win the ball off Batlle and her tackle is a bit late. The Colombian gets the first booking of the game and Bompastor is not happy. Bonmatí comes over after the challenge to help Batlle re-tie her laces.
Barcelona’s top scorer this season is 1v1 with Hampton and there was only going to be one outcome. It is a great little pass from Putellas and Pajor, situated between Bright and Baltimore, speeds forward and her cool low finish to the right gives the hosts the lead and her sixth Champions League goal this season. She blows kisses to all four stands in celebration. What a debut season she is having!
33 min:A rowdy Barcelona crowd tonight. Everytime Hampton gets on the ball the home crowd whistle loudly.
31 min:Hampton is up on her feet and rubbing her shoulder. She will continue for now but one to keep an eye on. She has been fantastic so far for the visitors.
29 min:Hampton is down on the ground with the physios. She crashed down hard on the crowd after jumping high to collect the ball from a cross. Cox, Chelsea’s No 2, is warming up on the sideline. Spencer, on loan from Tottenham, is also available on the bench.
25 min:Bonmatí is in acheres of space and decides to surge forward and take the shot from about 30 yards out. Hampton dives down and makes the save but she will surely be disappointed that none of her teammates pressed the Barcelona midfielder.
22 min:Putellas puts in a terrific ball for Bonmatí who attempts a quick pass to Paralluello but the winger can’t get there before Hampton. After the chance the camera flashes to likely the two most famous Barcelona fans in the stands today: Lamine Yamal and Gavi.
20 min:Graham Hansen somehow gets on the ball that looks to be trickling out for a goalkick and manages a cross but Björn head away.
17 min:Paralluelo puts in a great ball for Pajor with the outside of her left boot that evades several Chelsea defenders but the flag goes up on the Polish striker.
16 min:León loses the ball and Chelsea attempt a cross in the box but it is headed away. The Blues have a bit of rhythm now after that save but can they keep the ball and create some chances while on top?
14 min:Barcelona are being urged on by their fans after that miss but Putellas certainly looks a bit shocked.
Wow! Putellas steps up with her hands on her hips to wait for the whistle. She takes her shot and Hampton dives to her left, her legs saving the shot before Beever-Jones clears it away. It is a poor shot that is almost straight down the middle. Huge moment for Chelsea!
10 min:VAR check. That second ball from the corner hit Björn’s hand and her arm was definitely out in an unnatural position. No player appealed for it but the referee is going to take a look at the screen … and she gives it. Barcelona have the chance to go up early in this tie.
7 min:Chance! Graham Hansen’s shot is deflected just wide! The resulting corner leads to another which Paredes heads towards goal. Hampton makes the save though she looks quite shocked that she had to.
6 min:Ramírez surges forward on the left flank and finds Beever-Jones but the winger’s touch is too heavy and Coll collects.
4 min:Graham Hansen tries to cut in on the right but Baltimore is able to crowd her out. The ball come back through the middle and Guijarro goes for goal. It’s deflected off of Björn who tries to make the block but Hampton dives down and is quick to make the save.
2 min:Bonmatí surges forward but her former teammate Bronze gets on the ball and kicks it out for a throw-in.
Both sets of players take a knee before Barcelona get us underway. The hosts in their classic red and blue kits while Chelsea don their cream away kits.
The teams are out of the tunnel at the Estadi Johan Cruyffand the Champions League anthem blares out. We are moments away from kick-off!
Here is Romeu on his selection of Graham Hansenin the starting XI, who missed training on Saturday due to illness:
The first leg of the second semi-final was contested between Arsenal and Lyonyesterday with Melchie Dumornay scoring an 82nd-minute goal to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are hoping to reach their first Champions League final since they won the competition in 2007 and will have their work cut out for them in France against the eight-time champions.
Bompastor was also just asked about Jamesin her pre-match interview, who misses out due to injury:
James pulled out of the England squad after sustaining a hamstring problem in the 5-0 Nations League win over Belgium.
Here is what both head coacheshad to say in their pre-match press conference.
Sonia Bompastor:
Pere Romeu:
Let’s take a look backat everytime Chelsea have fallen to Barcelona in this competition.
First, it was the 2020-21 final where the Blues were absolutely blitzed 4-0. An own goal from Melanie Leupolz in the first minute opened the floodgates for Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen to score in the first half.
Then in the 2022-23 semi-finals, Barcelona took a 1-0 lead from Stamford Bridge before getting the job done at home, winning 2-1 on aggregate.
Last season’s semi-finals saw Chelsea take a stunning victory away from home thanks to an Erin Cuthbert goal but the Blues fell 2-0 in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Barcelona’s goal threatcomes from all over the pitch, but Ewa Pajor has certainly been the standout with 35 goals and counting in her debut season at the club. To compare, Chelsea’s top scorer is Aggie Beever-Jones who has netted 12 goals this season.
The 2023 and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Aitana Bonmatí, says Barcelona have a “good rivalry, no bad things” had high praise for Chelsea ahead of the tie.
Chelsea may have never been able to get past Barcelona in this competition beforebut Sonia Bompastor has. Her Lyon sidebeat Barcelona in the 2022 Champions League final 3-1. Here is Tom Garry on Chelsea’s evolution under their new head coach:
Barcelona (4-3-3):Coll; Battle, Paredes, León, Brugts; Bonmatí, Guijarro, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Paralluelo
Subs:Font, Roebuck, Fernàndez, Torrejón, Pina, Rolfö, López, Engen, Caño, Schertenleib
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):Hampton; Bronze, Björn, Bright, Baltimore; Walsh, Cuthbert; Rytting Kaneryd, Kaptein, Beever-Jones; Ramírez
Subs:Spencer, Cox, Nüsken, Macario, Reiten, Lawrence, Girma, Charles, Hamano, Mpomé, Jean-François, Brown
Referee:Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary)
Chelsea have been flying in this season in Sonia Bompastor’s debut season at the helm. They have already won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final. One hand is on the WSL title – their possible sixth in a row – and they are in the Champions League semi-finals. A historic quadruple is on the table.
Enter Barcelona. The Catalan club are the team to beat in Europe, having won the Champions League in three of the previous four seasons. Chelsea, led by Emma Hayes up until this season, have been knocked out of this competition by Barcelona in three of the last four seasons. The Blues have never beat Barcelona in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition. Will this finally be their time?
Join me for the first leg of this Champions League semi-final at the Estadi Johan Cruyff with kick-off at 5pm BST/6pm CEST. And, as always, if you have any thoughts, predictions, questions, complaints or musings you want to share, then feel free tosend me an email.