Barcelona secured a decisive 4-1 home victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final.
The tournament’s leading scorer, Claudia Pina, scored twice as Barca scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to take a commanding first-leg lead.
Chelsea’s goal came from winger-turned-outside back Sandy Baltimore in the 74th minute, as the Women’s Super League leaders created few scoring chances.
Barca’s first scoring opportunity came in the tenth minute, when a shot grazed the hand of Chelsea defender Natalie Bjorn inside the box. A video assistant referee (VAR) review led to a penalty, but Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas was denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton.
The reigning Champions League title holders maintained an airtight midfield press throughout the half which Chelsea struggled to break free from, resulting in sporadic line-breaking balls played in behind Barcelona’s defense, primarily to striker Mayra Ramirez, whose efforts were quickly and aggressively stifled before she or any other Chelsea attackers could create meaningful or threatening chances.
The visiting team’s first shot on target came in stoppage time of the first half from an Aggie Beever-Jones free kick but her effort was pushed out of bounds by Barcelona No 1 Cata Coll.
Barca’s players celebrated after taking a commanding first-leg lead (David Ramos/Getty Images)
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Putellas wrestled the ball free from a scrum in the midfield — which saw several Chelsea players freezing play in anticipation of a foul being called — and slotted a ball through to Ewa Pajor, who slid it past Hampton to give Barca the lead.
The Catalan side tightened its grip on the game in the 70th minute, facilitating a fast-paced counterattack that carried Ona Battle all the way up the pitch toward the end line. The low, driven cross from the outside back was redirected into the back of the net by Pina, who had been subbed on four minutes prior.
But Chelsea were not to be completely denied in their away fixture. Four minutes after Pina’s goal, Chelsea and USWNT striker Catarina Macario switched a ball across the mouth of the penalty box to Baltimore, whose clinical and characteristic left-footed finish kept Chelsea in the match.
That revival was ultimately short-lived, as Barcelona defender Irene Paredes connected on a corner kick in the 82nd minute and buried the ball past Hampton with her head, deepening their lead to 3-1. And in the 90th minute, Pina deepened her status as this tournament’s most prolific goal scorer, receiving a pass from Putellas and pounding the ball past Chelsea’s back line to wrap the game up.
(David Ramos/Getty Images)