Barcelona takes a commanding 4-1 lead over Chelsea in Women’s Champions League semifinals series

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Barcelona put on a dominant display in the Women’s Champions League semifinals against Chelsea, despite missing a penalty early on in the match. The Catalan club recovered from Alexia Putellas’ missed penalty to secure a commanding 4-1 victory over the English side.

The match saw Barcelona’s substitute Claudia Pina shine, as she scored two goals to help her team take control of the game. Ewa Pajor and Irene Paredes also found the back of the net for Barcelona, while Sandy Baltimore scored the lone goal for Chelsea.

Barcelona’s coach, Pere Romeu, emphasized the importance of not getting complacent with the lead, acknowledging that anything can happen in football. The two teams will meet again for the return leg at Stamford Bridge, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the final in Lisbon next month.

This win marked Barcelona’s eighth consecutive victory in the Women’s Champions League, with the team scoring an impressive 40 goals during this winning streak. Their strong performance in the competition has been noteworthy, especially after bouncing back from a 2-0 loss to Manchester City.

Barcelona and Chelsea have faced off in the last four for the third consecutive season, with Barcelona emerging victorious in each encounter. Despite the deficit, Chelsea’s coach, Sonia Bompastor, remains optimistic about her team’s chances and is focused on scoring early in the return leg to put pressure on Barcelona.

The match saw Pajor open the scoring in the 35th minute, followed by Pina extending the lead in the 70th minute. Baltimore’s goal briefly gave Chelsea hope, but Paredes’ strike in the 82nd minute restored Barcelona’s two-goal advantage. Pina sealed the victory with a goal in the 90th minute, capping off a stellar performance for Barcelona.

In the other semifinal series, Lyon secured a 2-1 away win against Arsenal, positioning themselves for another shot at the Women’s Champions League title. With a record eight championships under their belt, Lyon is determined to make it to the final once again.

Overall, Barcelona’s impressive display against Chelsea sets the stage for an exciting second leg at Stamford Bridge. Both teams will be eager to secure their spot in the final, making for a thrilling conclusion to the Women’s Champions League semifinals.