Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas celebrates after beating Chelsea within the first leg (Josep LAGO)
Ladies’s Champions League holders Barcelona dominated Chelsea as they claimed a 4-1 semi-final first leg victory on Sunday, with Claudia Pina bagging a brace.
The Catalans, concentrating on a 3rd successive triumph within the competitors, managed the sport as Sonia Bompastor’s guests dug in to try to make it again to Stamford Bridge with some hope intact.
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Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas missed a first-half penalty for Barca earlier than Ewa Pajor fired Pere Romeu’s staff in entrance and substitute Pina added a second.
Sandy Baltimore drilled dwelling after 74 minutes to chop Barca’s lead however Irene Paredes headed dwelling from a nook to revive the two-goal hole and Pina wrapped up an emphatic victory within the ninetieth minute.
“It is a good outcome, it was an entire efficiency and we’ve got a three-goal lead,” Pina informed TV3.
“It is a small benefit however it’s not over.”
Barcelona might not be fairly on the stage that noticed them win the quadruple final season below Jonatan Giraldez however they’re nonetheless in competition to repeat the feat this season, whereas the Blues have been additionally hoping to attain the identical.
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“We wish to transfer ahead and switch issues round subsequent week,” stated Chelsea coach Bompastor, whose Lyon facet beat Barca within the 2022 last.
“It is going to be tough however in soccer you need to consider.”
These sides have been paired for the third consecutive 12 months within the semi-finals, with the Catalans rising on prime on each prior events.
Barcelona additionally thrashed Chelsea 4-0 within the 2021 last, with the west London membership determined to show the tide in opposition to the three-time winners.
Nevertheless that’s far simpler stated than performed and Barcelona took management shortly in entrance of a document 5,750 crowd on the Johan Cruyff stadium.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton saved an Irene Paredes header which brushed Nathalie Bjorn’s arm on the way in which via and, after a VAR evaluation, Barca have been awarded a penalty.
Putellas struck it poorly, comfortable and down the center, and Hampton was capable of preserve it out.
Chelsea probed sometimes on the counter however Barcelona have been discovering their rhythm and took the lead after 35 minutes via Pajor.
Putellas made amends for her penalty miss by threading via the Polish striker, who completed clinically into the underside left nook.
– ‘No person occupied with Lisbon’ –
Chelsea regarded to gradual the sport down as a lot as attainable within the second half, seemingly content material with their single purpose drawback.
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Nevertheless Pina, prime scorer within the competitors with 9 targets, had different concepts and completed from shut vary after Ona Batlle teed her up.
Baltimore netted with a bolt from the blue to present Chelsea hope, flashing a low shot throughout Coll and in on the far submit.
Nevertheless Pina pinged a nook to the again submit and Paredes, who had escaped Lucy Bronze, headed dwelling.
Chelsea signed Bronze and midfielder Keira Walsh from Barca to try to shut the hole on the sport’s most dominant power, however on this proof there’s nonetheless some method to go.
Putellas produced an excellent back-heel to seek out Pina on the demise and the attacker beat Hampton with the help of a deflection to complete the rout.
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“As soon as they scored just a few targets we acquired a bit extra drained and let the sport get away from us ultimately,” Bronze informed DAZN.
“We have already proven within the Champions League that we will win 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, we’ve got that inside us.”
The second leg takes place at Stamford Bridge on April 27, with the winners going through document eight-time winners Lyon or Arsenal within the Lisbon last.
“We have been environment friendly, efficient and superior — however we’re two very related groups,” stated Romeu.
“It went how we needed it to, however it would not at all times, and we’ve got to be alert.
“No person is considering the Lisbon last… we anticipate a extra aggressive Chelsea (within the second leg).”
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