Chelsea 0 Barcelona 4: Blues’ Champions League dream crumbles as Catalans smash FOUR in blistering first-half display

CAROLINE GRAHAM HANSEN helped brilliant Barcelona tear Chelsea to shreds consigning the Blues to European heartbreak in a four-goal blitz.

A Hansen tap-in was among the efforts that saw Emma Hayes’ aces trounced 4-0 with Spain’s football queens winning their first Champions League trophy.

And it was the biggest winning margin for a side in the history of the contest.

The Gamla Ullevi Stadium, the home of Sweden women’s national side, played host to the duel between the top dogs of the game in England and Spain.

And it was fitting that the venue, just a stone’s throw from where Pele propelled Brazil to a famous 1958 World Cup quarter-final win, served as the backdrop for the four-goal thriller.

For the first time in seven years the final for the elite prize of women’s European club football did not feature the tournament’s record winners, Lyon.

Instead, all eyes were on two juggernauts seeking to become the new dominant club football force in Europe.

And it was Barca who came out on top brushing their opponents aside with a devastating attacking display.

Coming into this game, Lluis Cortes’ players had won ALL 26 matches they have played in Spain’s top-flight, scoring a mammoth 128 goals.

And within a minute the team that dispatched Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain took the fight to the WSL champs.

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It took just 33 seconds for the LaLiga giants to get on the scoresheet stunning their rivals in the process.

The Catalan team hit the crossbar with a ferocious drive off the edge of the box which found its way into the back of the net after rebounding off Melanie Leupolz.

The Blues – shocked by that opener – attempted to work their way back into the game and saw a ninth-minute Pernille Harder shot saved before Magdalena Eriksson went close with a header.

And Hayes’ aces had little time to regroup before their rivals doubled their lead.

It was danger woman Graham Hansen who swept past Jess Carter to cut back a pass for Jenni Hermoso.

And Spain’s all-time leading top scorer was brought down by Carter with Alexia Putellas converting from the spot in the 14th minute.

And there was little respite for the Blues with Spain’s top-flight champions tearing their defence open moments later.

This time it was Lieke Martens jinking down the left to tee up Hermoso, who set up Aitana Bonmati to score Barca’s third.

And the Catalan giants completed a 4-0 first-half demolition.

Martens made another dangerous run into the box before shrugging off Niamh Charles to set up a Hansen tap in moments after the half-hour mark.

The second spell saw a re-energised Chelsea attempt to battle their way into the game with Barcelona content to sit back and hit their rivals on the counter.

Fran Kirby saw her 51st-minute shot blocked before a Niamh Charles’ cross narrowly missed the head of the leaping Sam Kerr.

And Pernille Harder saw her 68th-minute effort – off the back of a Guro Reiten pass – find its way into the palms of keeper Sandra Panos.

The Spaniards had a couple of late half-chances before wrapping up a memorable win.

The result capped off an unlucky week of cup final losses for Chelsea with the Blues’ Premier League side falling 1-0 to Leicester in the FA Cup.

But having reached their first final in fine fashion Emma Hayes will be proud of her sides’ achievements.

And the WSL juggernauts are still on target for the treble with an end of season fifth-round Women’s FA Cup clash with Everton to come this month.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk