Women’s Champions League

EMMA HAYES was “gutted” to see Chelsea’s Champions League run end this term after Barcelona dashed their hopes of a treble.  Caroline Graham Hansen’s strike saw her side draw 1-1 with the battling Blues, sealing their 2-1 semi-final win on aggregate. 
Caroline Graham Hansen notched up her second goal of the tournament after scoring in the first leg of Barcelona’s semi-final clash ChelseaCredit: Getty
Guro Reiten netted an equaliser at the Nou Camp with Chelsea hoping to take the game into extra timeCredit: Getty
Barcelona’s 2-1 victory on aggregrate saw them reach their fourth Champions League finalCredit: Getty
The visitors attempted to mount a fightback with Guro Reiten nabbing an equaliser in front of a crowd of over 72,000 at the Nou Camp. 
But Graham Hansen’s goal was enough to end dreams of an all-English decider with Arsenal facing Wolfsburg in the second semi-final on Monday. 
After the game Hayes said: “I can’t ask any more of our players. I said to them at the end we’re all proud to be Chelsea.
“I think the better team lost. 
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“We grew into the game and you have to expect in front of 70,000 people (in the stadium) that by not conceding early you give yourself a chance to grow. 
“We did that and we got more aggressive and we created chances. I’m absolutely gutted. It’s hard when you lose when you care. 
“I can’t think of anything else but the defeat and how much it pains me because our dressing room delivered everything we could have asked.”
As expected of a side who have not lost at home since February 2018 Barcelona had the upper hand in attack early on. 
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Some of their most threatening moments involved Aitana Bonmati and Graham Hansen.
Hansen saw an eighth-minute finish disallowed following a handball before Oshoala blazed the ball over the bar shortly after. 
And Bonmati prompted a classy Ann-Katrin Berger save with her 15th-minute cross fizzing dangerously in front of goal. 
The Barca forward was a handful with her dummy in the box teeing up Mariona Caldentey for a shot over the bar on the half hour mark. 
Chelsea’s efforts in the final third were restricted in the first spell. 
But they had a few promising forays forward towards the first half’s closing stages with Reiten’s low cross almost finding Sam Kerr. 
The second spell saw Graham Hansen become the Blues’ nemesis yet again with her second goal against them in this term’s tournament. 
The forward, who scored in the first leg, latched on to a well-timed Bonmati pass to put Barca 1-0 up in the 64th minute. 
But Chelsea refused to buckle with Reiten burying an equaliser three minutes later to give Hayes’ side a glimmer of hope.  
Emma Hayes’ side return to WSL action next Wednesday with a game against Liverpool in the WSLCredit: Getty
Later on Kerr saw a shot blocked before Berger parried away Salma Paralluelo’s strike with two minutes of normal time left. 
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 But Barca held out to book their place in the final for the third season in a row.
A clash with the Gunners or Wolfsburg awaits them in Eindhoven in June. More

EMMA HAYES is not feeling the pressure as Chelsea prepare to battle Barcelona for a place in the Champions League final. And the Kingsmeadow boss criticised the rescheduling that has led to the men’s FA Cup final clashing with this term’s Women’s Champions League decider.
Chelsea will face Barcelona at the Nou Camp with a crowd of more than 70,000 expected at the stadiumCredit: Reuters
Emma Hayes side are aiming to reach the Women’s Champions League final for the second time since 2021Credit: Alamy
Today’s game could see Barcelona ace Alexia Putellas back in action. The midfielder has been declared fit after being sidelined for 10 months with an ACL injuryCredit: Alamy
Later today Hayes’ side will take to the field for a second-leg semis duel with Barcelona.
An estimated 70,000-strong crowd is expected at the Nou Camp to watch the duel.
The match, which kicks off at 5:45pm, comes five days after her WSL title-holders fell to a narrow 1-0 first-leg loss at Stamford Bridge. 
The Chelsea chief, 45, said: “This is not pressure. Many people want to be sitting in a position that I’m sat in. 
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“This is a joy to experience and take part in and something that we are working hard every day to do. 
“We prepare for this (kind of) game with every training session, with every game that we play, not just this season, but every season.
“I’m grateful to be in this position. I certainly don’t feel the pressure of it.” 
Barcelona are seen as favourites to lift this year’s trophy with Hayes’ side having knocked out record tournament winners Lyon.
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However the Blues’ boss reiterated her side are willing to suffer to fulfil their dream of reaching the final for the second time in two years.
Hayes added: “For us as a team, it’s important for us to be calm, whether it’s moments that don’t go very well or where momentum is in favour of Barcelona. 
“If an early goal comes (for us), fantastic but we’re focussing on getting the performance right, that’s what we have to nail.
“Our mentality – I think for us as a team, it’s something we work out all of the time, not one game. 
“And while there are very different things at stake, there’s a Champions League final at stake; the players need no motivation for that. 
“But they definitely need all of the skills that have been developed over a long period of time to manage playing in front of a large crowd.
“It’s going to be noisy with a team that we’re going to keep the ball for longer periods and we are this is a strength of our team. 
“We are built to cope with these challenges and we like to suffer, so we’re as prepared as we possibly can be.”
Should Chelsea emerge victorious they will face either Arsenal or Wolfsburg at the final in Eindhoven which kicks off at 4:00 pm local time in the Netherlands on Saturday 3 June. 
However that game will now coincide with this year’s men’s FA Cup final between Manchester City and Man United.
The Wembley encounter has been brought one hour forward to 3:00pm.
Hayes added: “It’s always disappointing when these things happen. 
“You’d like to think regardless of busy scheduling calendars that we can figure it out not to put them on the same day.”
Chelsea’s and Barcelona’s duel also comes a day after the release of a European Club Association statement that could lead to disputes between clubs and national sides before the World Cup. 
The ECA’s, whose members include WSL teams nsists national associations should “strictly adhere” to Fifa’s mandatory period for the release of players ahead of the World Cup. 
The organisation flagged “serious concerns” over the “lack of rest” from early call-ups which it says “contravenes the protection of players’ health and wellbeing”. 
It comes during a term in which several international pros in England’s top-flight and other European divisions have had their seasons curtailed by injury. 
These include England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson and Holland’s record goalscorer Vivianne Miedema who sustained ACL injuries this term.
In response to the statement Hayes said: “We have to reflect on the number of injuries that have taken place in the women’s game and say ultimately the duty of care we have to players. 
“There’s a valid argument for sticking to (international) windows. 
“There’s a reason and rationale to those windows especially in the last three years.
Emma Hayes says the number of injuries within the women’s game needs to be considered in debates concerning international windowsCredit: Reuters
“Players have had so little rest, maybe a couple of weeks at the end of the season. 
“It’s not enough. I can’t speak for this upcoming tournament, I’m not involved in those decisions being made.
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“But I do think that as the women’s game has progressed from the amateur game into the professional game there has to be more stringent restrictions on player welfare.”
Barcelona vs Chelsea can be watched live today from 5:45 pm on DAZN’s YouTube channel. More

ARSENAL look to be on their way to setting a new attendance record for a Women’s Champions League duel at the Emirates.Ticket sales for their semis second-leg clash with Wolfsburg reached the 52,000 mark this morning according to the club.
A record crowd is expected to watch Arsenal take on Wolfsburg at the Emirates in their Women’s Champions League semis deciderCredit: Getty
The Gunners battled their way to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash with the German sideCredit: AFP
Rafaelle netted a first-half goal for Jonas Eidevall’s aces with Stina Blackstenius scoring in the second spellCredit: AFP
Should this number turn out for next Monday’s fixture it would see them smash the current UK record attendance for Women’s Champions League match.
Last month they set a new record when a crowd of 21,307 watched them beat Bayern Munich in a second-leg quarter-final duel at the stadium. 
This was broken when Chelsea hosted Barcelona at Stamford Bridge last Saturday with 27,697 fans flocking to their semi-final game.
The Gunners’ upcoming clash with Wolfsburg takes place eight days after the team were forced to vacate a plane flying back to London following their first-leg draw away. 
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Part of the Boeing 737 aircraft burst into flames before its 7:30 pm departure to London on Sunday 
It is reported one of the engines caught fire when the plane was still on the runway at Braunschweig Wolfsburg Airport. 
In a statement Arsenal said the aircraft had “developed a technical issue prior to take-off”. 
Players and backroom staff remained in Germany overnight before returning on Monday afternoon.
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Arsenal’s second-leg duel with Wolfsburg follows Jonas Eidevall’s side sharing the spoils of a 2-2 draw with the German giants.
His injury-hit team battled back from a two-goal deficit against the Frauen Bundesliga side with Rafaelle and Stina Blackstenius on target. 
And they did so without the services of skipper Kim Little, vice-captain Leah Williamson and forward Caitlin Foord. 
Little and Williamson have been sidelined for the rest of this season with hamstring and ACL injuries.
However Foord could be set to return to action following her hamstring issue before the international break last month. 
Gunners fans will be hoping Caitlin Foord will be available for the second-leg of their clash with WolfsburgCredit: Getty
Defeat of Wolfsburg at the Emirates would see the Gunners reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2007. 
Back then former boss Vic Akers led the team to win the tournament over two legs with Alex Scott netting the winner for the club, 
The triumph saw them become the first English side to lift the Women’s Champions League trophy.  More

LUCY BRONZE aims to return to fitness as swiftly as possible after her knee operation before Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final clash against Chelsea.Keyhole surgery on the England full-back’s right knee will see her miss her club’s second leg duel at Camp Nou on Thursday.
Lucy Bronze will be out of action for the Women’s Champions League semi’s decider between Barcelona and ChelseaCredit: Getty
The England ace went off injury during the second half of Barca’s 1-0 defeat of Chelsea in their first-leg clashCredit: PA
Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez says the full-back has undergone a small operationCredit: Alamy
The operation followed the Lioness star hobbling off during the Catalan giant’s 1-0 defeat of the Blues at Stamford Bridge. 
The Barca defender, 31, came off in the 67th minute of the duel.
She was later spotted sat on the bench with an ice pack on her right leg during the game. 
In an update shared via her Instagram page, Bronze, wrote: “In very good spirits after my knee op yesterday. 

“It’s never easy being sidelined, but I’m as focused as ever to work hard and return to full fitness, hopefully as soon as possible. 
“Thank you to everyone for all of your kind messages already! I couldn’t ask for better support, so thank you
“The hard work has already started already can’t wait to be back on the pitch with this team.”
Bronze injury will no doubt come as a concern to England boss Sarina Wiegman as well as her club.
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The Lionesses are contending with injuries to a number of key players ahead of this summer’s World Cup. 
Skipper Leah Williamson and Beth Mead are currently sidelined due to ACL ruptures while Fran Kirby has been out of action since February. 
And Chelsea’s Millie Bright is out for weeks for following a cleanout procedure of a knee cartilage lesion. 
It is thought Bronze is likely to be absent from action for a few weeks. 
Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez told reporters: “She had a blockage in her knee. We decided she should have a small operation. 
Alexia Putellas could be set to make her return to action for Barcelona after being out of action with an ACL injury since last summerCredit: Alamy
“It’s a tiny intervention (she will be out for) just a couple of weeks.” 
Tomorrow’s game could see Alexia Putellas make her highly-anticipated return from an ACL injury. 
The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder has been out of action since last July when she sustained a knee ligament injury.  More

LUCY BRONZE gave England fans the jitters after going off injured during Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat of Chelsea in the Women’s Champions League semis.The full-back, 31, sparked concern after she dropped to the turf clutching her knee in the game’s second spell.
Lucy Bronze appeared to be struggling with a knee issue during Barcelona’s win against Chelsea in the Champions LeagueCredit: PA
The Barca and England full-back limped off with 23 minutes of normal time left in the game at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
Caroline Graham Hansen’s first-half rocket shot saw Barcelona seal a first leg semi-final away winCredit: Getty
The worrying moment came a day after national team-mate Leah Williamson saw her season ended early by an anterior cruciate ligament injury. 
Bronze was substituted swiftly after receiving treatment from her club’s physios for an issue with her right knee. 
And the Lioness was spotted with an ice pack on her knee after limping off in the 67th minute of the clash played in front of a 27,697-strong crowd at Stamford Bridge.
But Barca boss Jonathan Giraldez suggested the issue does not appear to be serious. 
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He said: “She felt something in her knee, but in the end it was normal and she’s fine.
“In the moment we made the substitution it was because the feeling she had was bad. But now the feeling she has is really good. 
The last clash between the teams saw Chelsea beaten in the Champions League final back in May 2021.
They were blown away in a thirty-six minute four-goal blitz with Caroline Graham Hansen among the Catalan giants’ biggest threats. 
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And she was Chelsea’s nemesis once again as Barcelona drew first blood in the semis first-leg battle.
The Norway forward gave the visitors a fourth-minute lead with a thunderbolt finish after being given too much space to fire. 
The visitors saw a chance to double their lead denied with Ann-Katrin Berger’s save of Geyse’s shot before Guro Reiten saw a goal ruled offside with 25 minutes gone. 
And the Blues forward had a glorious opportunity to level with her angled shot in the box cleared off target by Bronze. 
The second spell saw Hayes ring some changes with Lauren James among the substitutes introduced in this period and she saw an effort saved with 39 minutes of normal time left. 
And Ann-Katrin Berger pulled off a stunning late save to deny Fridolina Rolfo with Chelsea needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit at Camp Nou this Thursday. 
Blues boss Hayes said: “I wanted to be in the tie and we’re in the tie. Now we have to prepare again for another game.
Emma Hayes says her team must be prepared to suffer in order to overcome Barcelona at Camp Nou next ThursdayCredit: PA
“Their whole team is phenomenal. 
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You have to suffer. You will be without the ball. One switch off and positional error cost us the goal.
“I think we limited them to as few chances as we possibly could and I’ll take that going into the next game.” More

EMMA HAYES warns her Chelsea stars must be prepared to suffer in their bid to brush aside Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League. Her WSL titans will be targeting a Stamford Bridge win when they face Spain’s top tier leaders in a crucial first-leg semis duel. 
Chelsea hope to pull off their first ever Women’s Champions League semis defeat of BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
Emma Hayes’ team are set to play Spain’s league leaders in front of an estimated 25,000-strong crowd at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
Hayes says her side will need to play a perfect gameCredit: Reuters
The Blues chief, 45, said: “It will be tough and we have to play a perfect game. 
“We have to execute at both ends of the pitch to give ourselves the best possible chance.
“We have the advantage of being at home but we have as much possibility as we have ever had of qualifying for a final. 
“My message to the players is to give absolutely everything you can to doing that knowing that a final is at stake. 
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“We are a team that are used to struggling, we know how to suffer and we’re going to have to do that for much of the game.
“But we have a team that is ready to perform.”
The last clash between the sides in the 2021 final saw Chelsea fall to a 4-0 defeat.
Magda Eriksson, who played in that game, says the Blues are ready to rise to the challenge of stunning their rivals.
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And in the lead up to this game the Blues have registered impressive results in Europe this term
These include a quarter-final knockout of eight-time Champions League winners Lyon.
Magda Eriksson says Chelsea are ready for the challenge posed by BarcelonaCredit: Getty
The Chelsea captain said: “Of course the final loss a couple of years ago motivates us, but just the fact we can reach the final is motivation enough. 
“The girls have had a really good training week.  
“We can sense there is something special and the team is very, very together and ready for this challenge.
Chelsea vs Barcelona can be watched live via DAZN’s YouTube channel at 12:30 pm today More

KEIRA WALSH is out to prevent a historic first all-English Women’s Champions League final when Barcelona face Chelsea.Today’s lunchtime clash will be the Barca star’s maiden club match on home soil since her world-record transfer from Manchester City last summer.
Keira Walsh says she has become more “streetwise” on the pitch following her move to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
Walsh and her Barca team-mates have won all 25 of the games they have played so far in Spain’s top tierCredit: Getty
Today’s match at Stamford Bridge could see Lucy Bronze in action for the LaLiga Women’s leadersCredit: Alamy
Walsh and Lucy Bronze could be set to play at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League semis clash with the Blues.
The match comes almost a month after Chelsea’s dramatic defeat of record contest winners Lyon on penalties. 
Meanwhile, Arsenal visit German side Wolfsburg tomorrow in the first leg of their semi-final
Walsh said: “I’ve not played in a Champions League semi-final for a long time so on a personal note, it is really exciting. 
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“Although it would be good for English women’s football if there were two English teams in the final, Lucy and me will be trying our best to prevent that from happening. 
“We’re playing for Barcelona and with the kind of objectives we have here, we want to be in that game (the final).
“Playing in these sorts of games is what you want and it’s the reason why I signed for Barcelona.”
The last time the football titans went toe-to-toe was in May 2021 when Chelsea fell to a heavy 4-0 Champions League final loss. 
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However both sides have seen a number of players depart and arrive.
These include Lauren James who has emerged as one of the Blues’ most formidable forwards since her July 2021 move from Manchester United.  
Walsh added: “The girls will take confidence from the experience they had in the last final. 
“They played really well, scored a lot of goals and created chances so they can draw on that experience
“But it is two completely different teams this time around and a lot of different players for both sets of team. In that sense, it is a new challenge.
“We’ve been preparing for this the whole week. 
“People look at our scorelines in the Spanish league and think that the games aren’t that competitive
“But in our first half against Atletico Madrid last weekend it wasn’t an easy game. 
“It was man for man and it was hard to try to figure it out (to break them down) until the second half (of our 4-0 win). 
“I think those sorts of games are competitive so they do prepare you.”
Today’s clash will be followed by a second-leg duel on Thursday night at Spotify Camp Nou. 
Chelsea will be aiming to stop Walsh and Patri Guijarro taking control in midfieldCredit: Alamy
And it could see Walsh pulling the strings alongside midfield stars Aitana Bonmati and Patri Guijarro.
She added: “One thing they’ve really pushed me on here is being more aggressive and being a bit more streetwise in terms of when to make fouls and let play carry on. 
“For me, that’s a side that I’ve really improved on and something that Jonatan (Giraldez – Barcelona’s head coach) spoke to me about. 
“I also combine a lot more in midfield.
At Manchester City we’d like to keep possession and keep the ball, but it wasn’t necessarily a lot of short passes in the midfield.
Barcelona lifted their first Women’s Champions League trophy when they beat Chelsea in the final in May 2021Credit: AP
“It was a case of getting the ball wide to the wingers.

“But they always want me to try and find Patri and Aitana and play short passes. a
“I feel like I’ve improved defensively and become a bit more aggressive.” More