Chelsea’s hopes of lastly beating Barcelona within the Ladies’s Champions League took a significant blow as Pere Romeu’s facet walked away with a 4-1 benefit to take into the second leg of their semi-final tie.
Barcelona have dumped the Blues out of Europe in three of the final 4 seasons, together with two semi-final disappointments within the final two campaigns, and historical past may nicely repeat itself following their dominant efficiency within the first leg.
Ewa Pajor opened the scoring for Barca when she tucked her shot into the bottom-left nook after latching onto a move from Alexia Putellas, who had seen her penalty saved by Hannah Hampton earlier within the sport, earlier than substitute Claudia Pina tapped dwelling a second within the seventieth minute.
Chelsea will host the reigning champions within the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 27 and it seemed as if they’d rescued their hopes of reaching the ultimate when Sandy Baltimore’s low-driven effort discovered the again of the web, just for Irene Paredes’ header from a nook to revive the two-goal benefit lower than 10 minutes later.
Barcelona then added insult to damage when Pina doubled her tally on the afternoon, giving the Blues a mountain to climb within the second leg if they’re to guide their place in Bilbao on Might 25.
Bronze: We let it get away from us – however by no means say by no means
Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze talking to TNT Sports activities:
“We tried to push and noticed how straightforward it was to get the aim. In pushing, we left gaps. We had been disjointed on the finish and needed to make subs. It unsettled the rhythm.
Lucy Bronze through the 4-1 defeat to her former facet Barcelona
“We let it get away from us in the end but the Chelsea fans will be behind us. We can do it. Never say never and nothing is impossible. We have it in us to come out with a big performance. We love playing there [Stamford Bridge].”
Chelsea humbled by Barcelona
Sky Sports activities’ Anton Toloui
“Chelsea have been humbled, they’ll need the biggest performance in the history of the club to turn this around.
“They have been outclassed by a crew which have been the most effective on the planet for half a decade.
“Chelsea were exposed, lacked creativity and now have one hell of a fight at Stamford Bridge next week.
Chelsea Ladies react to the disappointing 4-1 loss to Barcelona within the Ladies’s Champions League
“Paredes’ goal is probably the moment that destroys Chelsea’s European dream. Lucy Bronze went down in a heap, hands thrown to the air and shouted what I presume is a variety of expletives as soon as Paredes’ header hit the net.
“The England right-back was overwhelmed far too simply and Bompastor can be furious a aim from a set-play was conceded.”
Mountain to climb for Chelsea
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
That is the difference. That is how quickly games can run away from you against elite opposition.
Ewa Pajor celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s opening aim in opposition to Chelsea
Chelsea weren’t the higher facet however they had been coping. Nonetheless, they unravelled within the second half and now face not simply an uphill battle within the second leg, it is a mountain to climb.
The house crowd will assist however can they do sufficient to tug Bompastor’s facet again into the tie? I am not so certain.
Finally, it comes right down to the gamers – they usually had been outclassed at instances this night.
It isn’t unattainable – but it surely appears unlikely.
