Uefa Girls’s Champions League: Chelsea v Barcelona
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday, 27 April Kick-off: 14:00 BST
Protection: Pay attention on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further and BBC Sounds and observe dwell textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app
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Sonia Bompastor says the second leg of Chelsea’s Girls’s Champions League semi-final towards Barcelona would be the “largest problem” of her profession.
Chelsea should overturn a three-goal deficit when the facet’s meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday after struggling a
The Blues seemed to have saved themselves within the tie when Sandy Baltimore’s 74th minute strike halved Barcelona’s lead however conceded twice within the ultimate 10 minutes to break their hopes of a quadruple desires and a primary European title.
Bompastor isn’t any stranger to beating Barcelona, having coached Lyon to a 3-1 victory within the 2021-22 ultimate, however acknowledges her facet have a troublesome activity towards “among the finest groups in Europe”.
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“After I was [Lyon] supervisor in 2022, we simply beat Barcelona within the ultimate and it was an enormous problem, however I feel this one will probably be in all probability the most important one in my profession as a supervisor,” she mentioned.
“We have to flip the three objectives up and in addition, we’re enjoying towards among the finest groups in Europe, if not the perfect staff. Will probably be troublesome.
“We might want to strive every part and that is why we’re speaking about having a very good mentality. I feel the correct mentality going into the sport is to present every part, give our complete, and to not have any regrets on the finish of the sport.”
Barcelona are concentrating on a 3rd successive Girls’s Champions League title [Getty Images]
Chelsea taking confidence from quarter-final comeback
Previous to Sunday’s defeat in Barcelona, Chelsea had solely misplaced as soon as all season.
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Nevertheless, whereas Bompastor’s facet will not be used to dropping, they did overturn a two-goal deficit to defeat Manchester Metropolis within the quarter-finals – an expertise captain Millie Vivid believes stands them in good stead for Sunday.
“It is confidence, simply reflection on after we performed Metropolis on the Bridge and what we did in that recreation, particularly within the first 45 minutes. It might have been greater than 3-0,” Vivid mentioned.
“We all know what we’re able to. We simply should be on the races and be the primary ones on the pitch demanding that depth, setting the tone. It is our house turf and we should be those main that.”
‘Crazier issues have occurred’
Bompastor referred to as on her gamers to point out a response to Sunday’s defeat and they’ll head into the second leg filled with confidence after defeating Crystal Palace 4-0 in midweek.
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However for former Arsenal participant Anita Asante, overturning Barcelona’s lead is “one step too far”.
“[Chelsea] have gotten leaders in that group and skilled gamers who’ve gained the Champions League with Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, the supervisor herself. They must carry that perception as a result of that’s what they are going to want to present them vitality and convey the depth into that recreation,” she mentioned.
“However Barcelona are the [defending] champions for a motive and that current efficiency actually mirrored that.”
Former England ahead Ellen White mentioned the problem for Chelsea will probably be shutting out Barcelona’s attacking threats.
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“It is an uphill battle,” she informed BBC 5 Dwell Sport’s Girls’s Soccer Weekly. “When you had been to take 2-1 again to Stamford Bridge, I feel I’d be laughing. [But] 4-1 is so much.
“Chelsea can kind loads of objectives, however can they not concede? Barca are going to attain objectives. They have it of their locker. It is whether or not [Chelsea] can rating sufficient objectives and never concede towards Barcelona. I am not fairly certain they might do this.”
Nevertheless, Jen Beattie provided a glimmer of hope for the Blues: “Look, crazier issues have occurred in European soccer recently. We have all seen how even 3-0 deficits aren’t sufficient. [But] it is an enormous activity for them.”
