Chelsea Women stunned Barcelona Women in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, with a 1-0 win inflicting a first home defeat in five years on the Spanish side.
Barca had gone unbeaten on home soil since a 3-2 defeat to Sporting de Huelva in February 2019, but came unstuck against a resilient Chelsea side who followed their game plan to perfection.
Emma Hayes’ team held their nerve as their Spanish hosts dominated possession from start to finish, and after a shaky opening they grew into the game themselves and offered a threat on the break in both halves.
It was from one such quick counter they scored the goal to give them a first-leg advantage, as Erin Cuthbert curled past Cata Coll after a smart one-two with Melanie Leupolz on the edge of the box.
Cuthbert gave Chelsea the lead with a fine strike shortly before half-time
Chelsea’s back three, marshalled by the colossal performance of Jess Carter, remained stoic throughout and were not seriously threatened in open play until Salma Paralluelo fired wide in the dying minutes from Caroline Graham Hansen’s excellent cross, before Alexia Putellas did likewise with the last kick of the game.
The hosts were initially awarded a penalty midway through the second period for a handball by Kadeisha Buchanan, but a VAR review showed Paralluelo, who was stood just behind the Chelsea defender, was offside and interfering with play.
That reprieve and those two late misses gave Chelsea a stunning lead to take back to Stamford Bridge next Saturday, with the hope of finally beating Spain’s best side within their grasp.
More to follow…
What’s next for Chelsea?
Chelsea are back in action when hosting Barcelona in the second leg of their semi-final tie at Stamford Bridge on April 27; kick-off 5.30pm.
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