Barcelona, the reigning champions, have secured their spot in the Women’s Champions League final after a contentious 2-0 victory over Chelsea in the semi-final’s second leg, which took place on Saturday.
Starting with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, Barcelona, under the guidance of Jonatan Giraldez, took the lead at Stamford Bridge thanks to a goal from Ballon d’Or recipient Aitana Bonmati.
The match escalated when Chelsea’s Kadeisha Buchanan was controversially sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
The tension peaked as Fridolina Rolfo converted a disputed penalty, sealing Barcelona’s 2-1 aggregate win.
Barcelona is set to compete in the final in Bilbao on May 25, facing off against either Paris Saint-Germain or Lyon, depending on the outcome of their semi-final match on Sunday, with Lyon currently leading 3-2.
This marks Barcelona’s fourth consecutive final appearance, as they aim to claim their third championship title.
Jonatan Giraldez expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We are very happy. We deserved the victory. Today we created clearer chances than in the first leg.”
Chelsea’s victory in the first leg remains Barcelona’s sole defeat this season, breaking the club’s five-year unbeaten streak at home.
Emma Hayes, Chelsea’s manager who is set to lead the USA women’s national team after this season, acknowledged the need for a flawless performance to defeat “the best team in the world” once more. However, Chelsea could not meet the challenge, prolonging their quest for their first Champions League title.
After losing to Barcelona in the 2021 final, Chelsea has faced defeat against them in successive Champions League semi-finals.
Reflecting the growing popularity of women’s football in England, Stamford Bridge reached its full capacity of 39,398 for the first time for a women’s match.
Despite the enthusiastic support, Chelsea fans left disappointed as Bonmati’s early strike, which was initially saved by Hannah Hampton, foreshadowed the eventual outcome.
Bonmati’s 25th-minute goal, following a defensive lapse from Chelsea, was a decisive moment. Buchanan’s deflection only added to Chelsea’s woes.
Chelsea’s hopes were further dashed when Buchanan was dismissed in the 59th minute for a tackle on Patri Guijarro, which, despite appearing to be clean, resulted in a second booking.
Barcelona’s victory was confirmed when Rolfo confidently executed the penalty awarded after Bonmati was brought down in the box, ensuring their passage to another final showdown.
