Chelsea’s Champions League ambitions came to a brutal end on Sunday, as Barcelona put on a commanding performance at Stamford Bridge, securing a convincing victory that ended Chelsea’s hopes of a comeback.
First Half: Barcelona’s Dominance Stuns Chelsea
Chelsea started the match with some early promise. Mayra Ramírez was a constant threat to Barcelona’s defense, and for the first 20 minutes, Chelsea looked the stronger team, although they struggled to create clear chances. Erin Cuthbert and Sandy Baltimore were unable to deliver the final ball that Ramírez needed to make the most of her opportunities.
Chelsea almost paid for a mistake in the 17th minute when Lucy Bronze’s back pass went astray, leading to a corner. Ewa Pajor’s shot from the resulting play sailed over the bar. But Chelsea failed to capitalize on their own chances. Baltimore’s shot went straight at Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll, and Sjoeke Nüsken’s shot shortly after was also blocked.
Barcelona took full advantage of Chelsea’s missed opportunities. In the 25th minute, Aitana Bonmatí sealed the tie with a stunning goal. She picked up the ball in her own half, powered past Niamh Charles, and struck a powerful shot into the top corner, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton helpless.
Chelsea’s hopes began to fade, and Barcelona capitalized on their momentum. Five minutes before the break, Ewa Pajor scored from a Caroline Graham Hansen cross, making it 2-0. Before the crowd had time to react, Barcelona struck again. Cláudia Pina scored a brilliant whipped shot from the edge of the box to give Barcelona a 3-0 lead.
The halftime whistle provided a brief respite for Chelsea, but their task was already a near-impossible one.
Second Half: Barcelona Cruises to Victory
The second half saw Barcelona in full control. With the tie effectively decided, they were content to keep possession and wait for opportunities to extend their lead.
Chelsea, now focused on limiting the damage, struggled to mount any significant attacks. Nüsken did her best, trying to create chances, but her shot in the 55th minute flew over the bar.
Barcelona almost made it 4-0 on the hour mark, but Hampton saved well to deny Pajor when she was one-on-one. As the match wore on, Hampton was forced into action again, keeping out a powerful shot from substitute Salma Paralluelo with 15 minutes remaining.
Despite Chelsea’s best efforts to salvage something from the match, Barcelona continued to press. A defensive error from Niamh Charles allowed Paralluelo to steal the ball and score Barcelona’s fourth goal, adding insult to injury for Chelsea.
There was a glimmer of hope for Chelsea when Weike Kaptein scored a consolation goal, but it was little more than a footnote on a disappointing day for the WSL leaders.
With the 4-1 win, Barcelona advances to the 2025 Women’s Champions League final, where they will face Arsenal in Lisbon on May 24.
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