Chelsea’s Girls’s Champions League bid was shattered by a superb Barcelona, who received 4-1 within the second leg to advance to the Champions League last by way of an 8-2 combination win.
Trailing 4-1 from the sport in Spain, Sonia Bompastor’s Blues wanted a miracle of epic proportions to achieve the Lisbon last – however discovered themselves an additional 3-0 down at half-time in opposition to unarguably the most effective group on the planet.
Chelsea did begin strongly and will have decreased the deficit however Sandy Baltimore and Sjoeke Nusken missed two huge possibilities in fast succession – however Barcelona surprised Stamford Bridge with three good targets.
First, Aitana Bonmati scored a surprising solo aim, bursting previous Niamh Charles down the Barcelona proper and ending excessive previous Hannah Hampton. The second aim got here down the identical wing, as nice work from Caroline Graham Hansen noticed her cross for Ewa Pajor, who could not miss from just a few yards out.
Simply as Chelsea have been catching their breath, Barcelona struck as soon as once more with the most effective aim of the lot. Claudia Pina, who scored twice within the first leg, bought one other in very good trend by discovering the highest nook from the sting of the field.
Hampton was stranded, Chelsea bewildered. The Girls’s Tremendous League’s shining gentle was given a footballing lesson by Barcelona – and it continued after half-time. It ought to have been a good larger triumph.
Fridolina Rolfo blazed a great probability over, whereas Hampton made beautiful saves to disclaim Pajor and Salma Parulello on two events, whereas Lucy Bronze denied one other Barcelona probability with a last-ditch clearance off the road.
Chelsea had possibilities to make the scoreline considerably respectable however Barcelona’s defence wouldn’t let up even at 7-1 up. Catarina Macario flashed a great probability vast contained in the field, whereas Catalan goalkeeper Cata Coll denied Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Lucy Bronze with very good close-range saves.
As an alternative, Parulello would get her reward as an terrible mix-up between Hampton and Niamh Charles allowed her to poke dwelling. Wieke Kaptein pulled one again however it will then be adopted by as boos from the house crowd at full-time.
It was the joint-second worst defeat of Bompastor’s profession – solely within the 5-1 dwelling loss to Arsenal as Lyon supervisor in October 2022 has been worse. For the Chelsea boss, she remains to be odds-on to say a home double this time period – however the hole to Europe’s finest is huge.
Extra to comply with.
Chelsea’s sorrow in images
Chelsea couldn’t maintain Barcelona off the scoresheet
Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert and Keira Walsh, the latter previously of Barcelona, couldn’t consider their eyes
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor suffered a heavy defeat
Chelsea’s Mayra Ramirez seems bewildered – the Blues ahead was taken off at half-time
Barcelona coach Pere Romeu celebrates together with his employees after a brutal first half
