Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg between Chelsea and Barcelona.
Sonia Bompastor faces a formidable challenge today, with this match potentially being the most significant test of her managerial career. Chelsea finds themselves trailing heavily, having lost the first leg 4-1 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. This situation is reminiscent of previous encounters, as Barcelona has consistently outperformed Chelsea in recent years, including victories in the semi-finals of the last two Champions League seasons and a decisive 4-0 win in the final of the 2020/21 season.
Despite the daunting task ahead, the notion of a remarkable comeback, often dubbed “remontada” in football, stirs excitement. If Chelsea were to overturn the deficit against Barcelona, it could be remembered as one of the greatest turnarounds in their history. While the odds may seem overwhelmingly against them, history has shown that unexpected outcomes can occur in sports.
Kick off
As the match gets underway at 2 PM, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. Barcelona has initiated the game by moving the ball from left to right.
There’s a minute of silence to commemorate the life of Pope Francis.
A strong crowd has gathered at Stamford Bridge, defying initial expectations regarding attendance. Approximately 25,000 tickets have been sold, demonstrating the unwavering support from fans who hope to witness something extraordinary, even if the likelihood appears slim. This sentiment echoes the human tendency to seek out the possibility of triumph, similar to the allure of lottery tickets or the willingness to endure heartbreak in the name of love.
The players are stepping onto the pitch, with Millie Bright showing a determined demeanor, eager to improve upon her previous performance. She emphasized the importance of mindset and attitude, stating, “Nothing is impossible within football or in sport if you have the right mentality.”
However, Tom Garry reports that while the sun blesses Stamford Bridge with warmth, optimism among Chelsea supporters remains muted. Many fans are braced for a challenging match, accepting the likelihood of Barcelona’s dominance. Yet, a glimmer of hope persists among some, encouraged by the stadium DJ’s efforts to energize the crowd with upbeat music. An early goal could ignite belief among the supporters.
“We know we can beat them but we’ll probably have to have the perfect game,” said Bompastor in a statement to DAZN. She acknowledged the need for Chelsea to capitalize on any mistakes made by Barcelona. Despite Chelsea’s struggles in the first leg, where they only managed 12 touches in the opposition box, there remains a pathway to success if they can control possession more effectively.
The historical context of this matchup is daunting for Chelsea. The last time Barcelona experienced a three-goal defeat was during the 2019 Champions League final, when they fell to Lyon 4-1. Lucy Bronze, a seasoned player with multiple Champions League titles, expressed her belief in Chelsea’s potential after their first-leg setback, urging her teammates to understand that the second leg presents a fresh opportunity playing at home.
The teams
Chelsea: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Girma, Charles, Walsh, Cuthbert, Nüsken, Kaneryd, Ramírez, Baltimore
Subs: Spencer, Cox, Lawrence, Mpome, Kaptein, Jean-Francois, Hamano, Reiten, Brown, Macario, Beever-Jones
Barcelona: Cata Coll, Paredes, María León, Clàudia Pina, Graham, Alexia, Patri, Aitana, Rolfö, Pajor, Batlle
Subs: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Paralluelo, Marta, Vicky, Engen, Brugts, Caño, Schertenleib
The statistics paint a challenging picture for Chelsea, making the need for a strong performance even more crucial.
Source
www.theguardian.com