Despite giving up an early goal in the first half, the Chelsea Women showed immense resilience to get back into the game against arguably the best side in European football.
With nearly 28,000 fans behind them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, the Chelsea Women went toe to toe with arguably the best team in European women’s football at the moment. Once the draw came out February 10, it was clear the Blues were going to have the most difficult path to Philips Stadium. Going up against a team that has scored 105 goals in domestic play, Emma Hayes’ side may have sat back a little too much to protect Barcelona from running up the score with a second leg still to play.
In the quarterfinal tie against Roma to earn a chance to play for a place in the final, Jonatan Giraldez’s side took down the Italians on the road by just a goal. Barca came back for the home leg at Camp Nou and netted five unanswered goals to put the tie out of reach. That is what the Blues should be terrified of, but nevertheless, there was plenty of positives to take from a match still give Emma Hayes’ team a chance to earn a trip to their second-ever Champions League final.
Carolina Graham Hanson’s stunning left-footed strike from outside the box in just the 4′ of the match was enough to provide the current Spanish champions with a slim lead heading back to Camp Nou on Thursday evening. Despite many critics calling the west Londoners out for not creating enough, the three-time defending WSL champions kept Barca at bay from the 4′ on.
'It's important for us to remember that it's half-time.' – Emma Hayes💬#UWCL pic.twitter.com/K0Hln7kw5M
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 22, 2023
While Chelsea got outshot by 10, the Spanish side only mustered two more shots on target than the Blues through 90 minutes. It was just the third time this calendar year that the 2021 Champions League winners had six or fewer shots on net in any competition. Ann-Katrin Berger, at times had to come up with the big save, but the Blues’ back three of Jess Carter, Maren Mjelde and Magdalena Eriksson provided that kind of stability they needed throughout the match. Without the club’s two best centerbacks, the defensive display by the home side was quite extraordinary.
Sam Kerr was just a hair offside in the 25′ as she played a perfectly weighed ball into Guro Reiten who calmly passed it into the back of the net by Sandra Panos. Reiten would get another chance in front of goal just a few minutes later. Lucy Bronze got her body in front of Reiten’s shot with Panos was out of position.
The chances came for the west London outfit throughout the first 45 minutes, but against a side like Barca, you have to be able to execute on the few opportunities you do get. Coming up against Giraldez’s side, that was a display Hayes can certainly build on with 90 minutes remaining to find an equalizer. Here are three takeaways from a match that sets up what looks to be a can’t miss showdown on the coast of Spain.