Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea: Barca make Champions League final with 2-1 win on aggregate against WSL side
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/04/2023 at 23:10 GMT
Barcelona will play a third successive Women’s Champions League final after they beat Women's Super League side Chelsea 2-1 on aggregate. They await the winners of Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the final in Eindhoven on Saturday June 3. Chelsea star Guro Reiten cancelled out Caroline Graham Hansen’s opener but Emma Hayes' team were unable to fashion a further goal.
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Barcelona have reached their third successive Women’s Champions League final despite a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Camp Nou as they emerged 2-1 winners on aggregate.
Guro Reiten cancelled out Caroline Graham Hansen’s opener, but despite Chelsea’s best efforts they couldn’t find a second goal as Barcelona booked their place in the final at Eindhoven - to be played against either Arsenal or Wolfsburg on Saturday, June 3.
Chelsea knew the size of the task facing them having lost the first leg 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Barcelona’s winning streak at home stretching back as far as February 2019.
Therefore, Emma Hayes’ side will have been satisfied to have gone in at half-time with the game scoreless; although the Catalan club had dominated proceedings, they failed to register a shot on target.
The inclusion of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas in the Barcelona squad for the first time in 10 months raised excitement before kick-off, but it was Graham Hansen - scorer of Barcelona’s goal at Stamford Bridge - who the crowd was gripped on in the first half. She had a goal ruled out for offside before laying on an opening for Mariona Caldentey who shot over.
But the perseverance of the Norway international shown through in the second half when she ruthlessly finished off a fine counter-attacking goal in the 63rd-minute following a superb run by the excellent Aitana Bonmati.
However, the Blues were back in the tie just four minutes later when Reiten converted with a rebound after Sam Kerr was denied by goalkeeper Sandra Panos. The goal stood following a VAR check after a strong challenge by Erin Cuthbert in the build-up.
The visitors were brave in their attempt to send the tie into extra-time but the Catalan club - who kept Putellas on the bench - held on amid jubilant scenes at the final whistle.
Talking point - Chelsea bow out with heads held high
Despite exiting the tournament, Chelsea will bow out with their heads held high as they end Barcelona’s proud home streak, which stood at an amazing 60 consecutive league wins and 19 in Europe.
Of course, there will be disappointment as The Blues fall short in the Champions League once again, but almost matching arguably the best team in the world over two legs is no easy task. The club have evidentially come a long way since being humbled 4-0 in the 2020/21 final by the same opponent.
Should Arsenal make it past Wolfsburg in the other semi-final (with the scores level at 2-2 from the first leg), the Gunners will take heart from their neighbours’ effort and will be encouraged that they can cause an upset.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Panos 7, Torrejon 6, Parades 7, Leon 6, Rolfo 7, Bonmati 8*, Walsh 6, Guijarro 6, Graham Hansen 8, Oshoala 7, Caldentey 6.. subs: Crnogorcevic 5, Paralluelo 5, Geyse N/A, Engen 5.
Chelsea: Berger 7, Perisset 6, Mjelde 6, Eriksson 5, Carter 6, Cuthbert 6, Leupolz 6, Reiten 7, Kerr 6, Charles 5, Fleming 6.. subs: Kaneryd N/A, Harder 5, James 5.
Player of the match - Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)
Although Graham Hansen was excellent as she got on the scoresheet once again, it was Bonmati in midfield who was pulling the strings for Barcelona. At times Chelsea couldn't cope with her direct running, pace and skill as she provided a beautifully-crafted opener.
Match highlights
8’ - GOAL RULED OUT! Another early sign of encouragement from Barcelona as Graham Hansen has the ball in the back of the net - only to see it ruled out. The striker gets in front of Eriksson to meet a cross but used her hand to control before finishing.
27’ - BIG CHANCE! Graham Hansen continues to be a nuisance, pulling the ball back to Mariona on the edge of the box but her first-time effort misses the target.
63’ - GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 CHELSEA (2-0 ON AGG) - CAROLINE GRAHAM HANSEN: Graham Hansen may have just put the game beyond Chelsea's reach! The Norway international - scorer of the winner in the first leg - finishes off a fine counter-attacking goal. It's a fine driving run by Bonmati and she picks her pass perfectly to Graham Hansen who shows great composure and makes no mistake with her finish, despite the best efforts of the sliding Carter.
67’ - GOAL! BARCELONA 1-1 CHELSEA (2-1 ON AGG) - GURO REITEN: It's game on once more! Moments after Chelsea conceded the opener, Reiten has equalised! Kerr is played through on goal but can't find a way past the onrushing Panos. The loose ball drops kindly to Reiten, who makes no mistake. Chelsea just need one more goal to level the aggregate score. Barcelona are furious; they feel Cuthbert committed a foul in the build-up but the goal will stand following a VAR check.
Key stat
Chelsea have faced 16 different opponents in the Women's Champions League and beaten 15 of them - the only side they haven't beaten is Barcelona (P3 L2, D1).
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