Chelsea 0-2 (1-2 agg.) Barcelona, Women's Champions League semifinal: Post-match reaction

27/04/2024 20:29

Congrats to UEFAlona.

As expected, Barcelona Femení wouldn't simply accept heading to Stamford Bridge losing 1-0 on aggregate to Chelsea Women in this UEFA Women's Champions League semifinal. They took their home defeat to heart and after a few clashes in midfield for controlling possession and the run of play, the visitors began dominating.

In the first leg in Barcelona, Chelsea's defence and midfield were the two main factors in us bringing home the one-goal lead in the aggregate score as they played well above their usual level. Today they weren't as good, and a string of bad plays from them led to Aitana Bonmatí making Barça level on the aggregate score with Chelsea.

An irate Chelsea found impetus to bring the ball forward and hit Barcelona as hard as they could. We almost got ourselves back in the lead via Melanie Leupolz, but the midfielder's shot at a goalkeeper-less goal in the area went over the crossbar instead.

After managing our rage, Barça found their footing on the pitch again. They kept hounding our area, exchanging passes back and forth in hopes to breach us and let the clock run until half-time.

It was difficult envisioning Chelsea getting out of this situation in regular time. Barcelona returned from the tunnels showing they wouldn't rest on the 1-1 tie, pushing their lines up and trying to pounce on a few lackadaisical moments from the backline.

But we shouldn't underestimate our girls. On a great turn of play, Ashley Lawrence assisted Sjoeje Nüsken for a shot in the area. The ball slowly rolled towards the target... and then hit the post.

At the same time we should always keep in mind this is a UEFA game. The abhorrent refereeing at display made another victim in Kadeisha Buchahan, who got her matching orders with a second yellow card for a midfield "foul" on Patrícia Guijarro.

To the surprise of no one, Chelsea were highly affected by the numerical disadvantage. All the spaces we did our best to close, were now wide open for Barcelona to exploit.

This wouldn't be a complete Barcelona game in the Champions League, if there wasn't a completely questionable penalty decision in its midst. Bonmatí folded to the ground in the area and the referee didn't even make an effort to hear what VAR had to say about it. Penalty given and converted by Fridolina Rolfö.

Several changes were made, but none made a true impact. As it happened against Manchester United in the League Cup semifinal and in several other matches throughout the season, Chelsea can't fight against 12 women on the pitch when they only have 11 — or 10, in today's case after Buchanan's second yellow.

• Same starting lineup as last weekend bar Mayra Ramírez, with Catarina Macario in her place.
• That laudable solidity at the back and in midfield a week ago, giving way to the same old mistakes. Of course we'd be punished by that.
• You can't miss opportunities like Leupolz's, if you are to reach a Champions League final.
• Still unsure how teams other than Barcelona still accept this level of refereeing in high-level matches like these.
• Next up: Liverpool away in the Women's Super League.
• KTBFFH.