Chelsea earned a one-goal advantage in a 1-0 defeat of Barcelona in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final.
It was Erin Cuthbert who put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute and Barcelona were unable to answer though Salma Paralluelo came close in the 85th minute.
It was a shock defeat for defending champions Barcelona, who hadn’t lost since May 2023 and hadn’t lost at home since February 2019.
The first team to beat Barcelona at home in FIVE years.
It’s a Chelsea thing. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/TMTUWpif7Q
— (C)helsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) April 20, 2024
Manager Emma Hayes, coming to the end of her Chelsea career as she prepares to take up the lead role for the USWNT, urged against complacency when she spoke to DAZN:
“It’s just half-time. Nobody should get carried away with that and to be honest I’m disappointed we didn’t get the second goal. It’s a difficult place to come, they carried out the game plan I asked them to do so from that perspective I’m happy.”
“I think I know how to come away from home and get a result. We have not performed against Barcelona at home. We have under-performed when we played at home. Barcelona have another level in them and I think that’s clear. Maybe they don’t feel they were at their best today and we have to anticipate that.”
“We will only be as strong as the crowd that comes out. It’s important we pack Stamford Bridge out to give half a chance against the best team in the world. We are at half-time and there’s another level to Barcelona.”