April 28, (THEWILL) – Barcelona exhibited their dominance in the women’s game, battling past Chelsea to secure a UEFA Champions League final berth. In a pulsating semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, the Catalan giants overturned a 1-0 deficit to triumph 2-0, advancing to the showpiece event with a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
The encounter was not without controversy, as Chelsea’s Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan received a contentious red card, a decision that incensed Blues manager Emma Hayes. The dismissal proved pivotal, swinging the momentum in Barcelona’s favour after Chelsea had initially mounted a spirited response to falling behind.
Aitana Bonmati’s deflected strike in the 26th minute cancelled out Erin Cuthbert’s opener from the first leg as she became Barcelona’s joint all-time top scorer in the UCL. Fridolina Rolfo’s penalty later sealed the victory for the visitors.
For Hayes, who will depart Chelsea to manage the US national team after 14 years at the helm, the defeat signifies another missed opportunity to claim the elusive UCL crown. Her side have reached the final only once, in 2021, when they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Barcelona.
Barcelona, winners in two of the last three seasons, march on to the final in Bilbao on May 25, where they will face either Lyon or Paris Saint-Germain. For Chelsea, the focus shifts to retaining their Super League title, though they trail Manchester City by three points with a game in hand.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
