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For the entire Chelsea domain on the domestic front, UEFA Women’s Champions League remains its most elusive border, particularly when it comes to facing Barcelona.
Once again, Spanish giants proved to be their nemesis, ruthlessly dismantling the blues with a 4-1 victory in the first leg in the Johan Cruyff Stadi.
It is the third consecutive season, these two parts have faced themselves in the last stages of the competition, and the third time Barcelona has emerged superior.
The last blow leaves the European dreams of Chelsea hanging by a thread ahead of the second section in Stamford Bridge.
Bright beginning, bitter end
Chelsea entered the semifinal draw under the leadership of the new manager Sonia Bompastor, who had previously raised the Champions League as a player and coach with Lyon.
With fresh faces such as Sandy Baltimore and the belief that this could finally be his year, Chelsea arrived in Spain with optimism.
But Barcelona wasting little time crushing that hope. The objectives of Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina gave the hosts the early control, and although Baltimore’s impressive strike retired one for Chelsea, defensive lapses saw Irene Paredes and Pina hit again to expand the gulf.
It was the strongest defeat of Chelsea from a 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in December 2023, and the statistics told history: 33% possession, only two shots in the target and only 11 touches in the Barcelona box.
It is still a flash of belief
The question now is whether the draw is already out of reach.
But this is a team known to get up when it is canceled. Chelsea raised a two -goal deficit against Manchester City in the quarterfinals, and their domestic resistance, such as the dramatic late position last year to ensure the WSL title, they have earned them the tag of ‘Mentity Monsters’.
Lucy Bronze, now with Barcelona but once Rival of Chelsea, played a more cautious note about her current team.
All eyes in Stamford Bridge
The second stage of Sunday at Stamford Bridge offers Chelsea a final opportunity to rewrite this script.
The mountain is steep, but the story of football is full of return that once seemed impossible.
Barcelona may have the advantage, but Chelsea’s fight is not over. And with their backs against the wall, the blues have demonstrated again and again that they can be more dangerous.
