Ladies’s Champions League: Chelsea v Barcelona
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London Date: Thursday, 20 November Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Protection: Watch on BBC Two & BBC iPlayer, commentary on BBC Radio 5 Reside & BBC Sounds, reside textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site & app
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Erin Cuthbert precisely sums up the current Ladies’s Champions League contests between her Chelsea facet and Barcelona when she describes them as “some good, some dangerous, some extra dangerous to be trustworthy”.
For the fifth time in six campaigns, the champions of Spain and England will meet in European competitors once they face-off within the league part at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
It is perhaps deemed a rivalry between two of the largest groups on the continent by some, however that may point out an equality that has been conspicuously absent.
Of their seven conferences since 2021, Barcelona have received 5, scoring 16 objectives to Chelsea’s 4.
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It consists of the 2021 closing the place with all 4 objectives coming in a dominant first half.
The perimeters have met within the semi-finals of the final three Champions League seasons, with Barcelona progressing from each two-legged affair.
Chelsea did lay a glove on Barca in 2024, , however have been in a controversial return the place defender Kadeisha Buchanan was despatched off for the Blues.
The hole was larger than ever final season, the place – 4-1 each residence and away – and Chelsea have been lucky to concede solely eight in a tie the place they have been conclusively second greatest.
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Scotland ahead Cuthbert, who will make a record-extending 54th Champions League look for Chelsea ought to she function on Thursday, has extra expertise of coping with their opponents than anybody.
“I feel it is at all times a fierce rivalry, it is at all times fiercely contested in midfield,” . “There’s at all times a couple of scraps occurring, however I feel you want to be tremendous organised if you play in opposition to Barca.
“It is advisable not leap out of areas, they prefer to play quite a lot of quick passes. It is vital that you aren’t getting drawn to the ball as a result of they’re clever gamers.”
‘In comparison with the stats of final season we’re underachieving’
Erin Cuthbert is the one lady to attain a profitable objective for Chelsea in opposition to Barcelona [Getty Images]
Now they meet once more and, based mostly on the stats, the hole has solely grown in the previous few months.
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Chelsea’s semi-final thrashing final season got here in the direction of the top of a home marketing campaign the place they swept all earlier than them. Sonia Bompastor led them to a treble, whereas they grew to become the primary facet to finish a 22-match Ladies’s Tremendous League season unbeaten.
In 2024-25, Chelsea solely dropped factors in three WSL matches. To date this time period they’ve did not win three of 9 league video games already.
“We aren’t the place we wish to be, we at all times wish to be on the prime,” Bompastor informed her pre-match media convention on Wednesday. “We all know what we have to do, now turning phrases into actions.
“We have to be environment friendly and scientific, create alternatives and large probabilities. In comparison with the stats of final season we’re underachieving, we’re not blissful once we do not win video games.”
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Aside from a shock league defeat by Actual Sociedad on 2 November, Barcelona have been their ordinary all-conquering selves.
They’ve received each different recreation this season – together with a very eye-catching 7-1 thumping of Bayern Munich to open their Champions League marketing campaign. In Liga F, they’ve scored 51 objectives in 11 video games, conceding twice, to take a seat six factors clear on the prime.
“We anticipate to have a tricky recreation in moments, with not as many alternatives as in another video games,” added Bompastor.
“If you play a Champions League recreation at Stamford Bridge, the motivation is excessive.”
The issues over Barcelona’s squad in the summertime – 13 gamers left on everlasting transfers with solely two arriving – has abated for now.
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The truth that 10 gamers of their 19-woman first-team squad are within the closing yr of their contracts – together with key figures like Cata Coll, Mapi Leon, Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen – is a narrative for one more day.
So how do Chelsea lastly earn a significant win over Barcelona?
Cuthbert was key to the one time they emerged victorious, scoring in that victory 18 months in the past in Spain.
“I keep in mind being up for it from the primary minute,” she recalled. “The women have been closing areas effectively. We weren’t leaping out, however I feel when the time got here to be aggressive and win the ball again, we received the ball again in excessive areas.
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“We spooked them a bit of bit, and I feel they discovered it tough to interrupt us down that day. I feel all people was placing their physique on the road, I keep in mind everybody was sliding, backs in opposition to the wall at instances, however it’ll be like that if you play in opposition to a top-class facet like Barcelona.
“It is advisable be keen to push your self to locations that you have by no means went to earlier than.”
‘I used to be an absolute mess’
Sam Kerr scored twice as Chelsea beat St Polten 6-0 final week within the Champions League [Getty Images]
Either side are unbeaten after their opening three Champions League matches and can anticipate to earn two of the 4 computerized locations within the knockout phases accessible via this season’s new format.
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second with 9 factors – some extent behind leaders Lyon – whereas Chelsea sit fifth on seven after their shock draw with Twente. They’re two of the highest scorers within the league part up to now – Barca have 14 strikes to Chelsea’s 11.
Though they’re lacking first-choice keeper , the Blues have gotten riches to spare elsewhere.
Ahead Lauren James got here off the bench in opposition to St Polten and Liverpool within the WSL, as she continued her restoration from the damage sustained at Euro 2025.
Bompastor stated she wouldn’t play 90 minutes on Thursday, however is able to begin.
England striker Aggie Beever-Jones can also be again, nonetheless on her first Chelsea begin for 692 days final week in opposition to St Polten – won’t be risked as she regains full health.
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Not like their earlier clashes with Barcelona, this isn’t winner takes all. In a league part recreation with much less instantly at stake, it seems Chelsea might be able to chill out that little bit extra.
“It is not an absolute do-or-die recreation, however in fact we wish to win,” stated Cuthbert, 27.
“I do suppose it is a bit simpler to play Barcelona over one leg, to be trustworthy, as a result of I feel they make such nice tactical tweaks they usually’re such nice gamers that they’re going to most likely do quite a lot of evaluation and discover areas the second time round once they play them.
“So hopefully we will catch them out by the component of shock.”
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They may take a leaf from rivals Arsenal, .
Or they could possibly be impressed by Cuthbert’s Scottish compatriots, who certified for due to a outstanding 4-2 win over Denmark.
The epic triumph included unimaginable objectives, together with an overhead kick by Scott McTominay and a end from the midway line by Kenny McLean.
“I used to be an absolute mess,” admitted Cuthbert, who watched the sport along with her dad and mom.
“I jumped on my dad once we scored. I believed it was slipping away from us, however to convey it again was wonderful.”
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Requested if she would attempt to emulate McTominay’s exploits at Stamford Bridge, she laughed: “I would knock somebody’s head off! I do not care if it goes in off my bottom.”