Barcelona hold on to end Chelsea’s Women’s Champions League dream

When at last the final whistle went and 72,262 people erupted, Barcelona’s anthem booming round the Camp Nou and at last taking the tension away, their players collapsed to the floor exhausted. Chelsea’s gathered in circle in the middle of the pitch; they had taken the team that can look untouchable to the edge, competing to the last, but it is the Catalans who made it through, a 1-1 draw on the night carrying them to a third consecutive Champions League final, their fourth in five seasons.

On the touchline, Emma Hayes could be proud of her side. Having defeated Lyon, another extraordinary feat was a step too far, Chelsea beaten by a very special team whose domestic record is the stuff of opponent’s nightmares: played 25, won 25, scored 105, conceded 5. One who had put five past Roma. They could only score one against Chelsea, able to get a draw where no one else could, Guro Reiten equalising Caroline Graham Hansen’s opener. The Norwegian’s first-leg goal at Stamford Bridge had, though, ultimately decided this.

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This is not the Chelsea team beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in the 2021 final and Hayes had rightly talked of Chelsea’s ability to defend after the first leg, but that scoreline required a victory here and that evaded them. It also required a different approach, a greater threat, and that too proved impossible until the closing stages.

“We can’t let them have 80% of the ball,” the Chelsea coach had said, and her side began on the front foot, or tried to. Good intentions though are one thing, reality another and it wasn’t long before this settled into a familiar pattern. Barely a couple of minutes in fact, Barcelona quickly making the ball their own and making openings too. It was to Chelsea’s credit that they were able to break that up in the end, giving themselves a chance of reaching the final again.

Asisat Oshoala’s first effort, scuffed across the six-yard box, had come inside four minutes and Barcelona thought they had the lead after just seven when Magdalena Eriksson’s mistake saw her let Fridolina Rolfö’s cross go all the way through to Graham Hansen at the far post. Graham Hansen was judged to have handled before putting the ball in the net, but she would prove decisive, this already looking like a long evening for Eriksson and indeed for Niamh Charles.

That time Graham Hansen had come from behind her, most of the time, she was going straight at her, flying past. Graham Hansen kept coming, a clarity and subtlety to go at her pace. It was hard enough trying to stop her; when Aitana Bonmatí floated to the right to join in, it was almost impossible. Then there was Mariona Caldentey, busy being everywhere.

Given teammates to play off, Graham Hansen enjoyed the early stages here. A neat one-two with Caldentey saw her blocked shot fall to Oshoala, who sliced the follow up. Another combination, this time with Bonmatí, who cleverly let the ball run, then led to Caldentey shooting over. When Rolfö and Eriksson clashed heads it gave Hayes an opportunity to gather her players. The game was only 15 minutes in but there was already a lot to say.

Ann-Katrin Berger then had to claw away a Bonmatí shot. Next Graham Hansen was blocked, for now it was enough to resist, which Chelsea did well. Bonmatí, feet so fast it’s like she’s wearing skates and so smooth that actually maybe it’s slippers, escaped again only for the final ball in to be intercepted, blocked shots and crosses becoming a recurring theme.

When white shirts got into the Barcelona box five minutes from the break, Irene Paredes across quickly, it was almost the first time, although they returned soon after, Sam Kerr not seeing Charles. Chelsea competed well but would need a goal from somewhere and it was Barcelona who got it first.

Related: Clinical Caroline Graham Hansen teaches valiant Chelsea a harsh lesson | Suzanne Wrack

A wonderful cushioned pass on the volley from Caldentey sent Bonmatí dashing through all the way to the area and waiting for the right moment to release Graham Hansen to score. If Barcelona thought it was done, Chelsea’s response impressed, the equaliser arriving just three minutes later. Erin Cuthbert’s superb tackle started it and Melanie Leupolz’s neat clipped pass made it, finding Kerr free at last. Sandra Paños saved Kerr’s shot but the excellent Reiten followed up.

This was a different game now, a big finish seemingly set up. Barcelona were on edge, their assuredness shaken. Paredes had to block Kerr, Pernille Harder and Lauren James were introduced, and the momentum built, even if it didn’t bring clear chances. Cuthbert’s long shot was caught by Paños and when James got a sight of goal she snatched at it, slicing over. At the other end, Berger had to dive to palm away from Salma Paralluelo. Time slipped away, while on the touchline Hayes, who said she could hear her opponents panicking, urged her players to reach for one last shot but it wasn’t to be, Barcelona heading to Eindhoven in the end.