Barça Femení starts looking for another final in London
Jonatan Giráldez’s men visit a tough Chelsea, with casualties, at Stamford Bridge
BARCELONA, 21 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça Femení visits Chelsea this Saturday at Stamford Bridge (1:30 p.m.) in the first leg of the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League, a duel with recent history for the 2021 final and which the blaugrana arrive at a good time, ready to achieve a good result for the return in Barcelona that brings them closer to another final.
The blaugranas have played three ‘Champions’ finals, the ‘blues’ only one. And it was 2021, in which Barça achieved what is their only title to date. A final (4-0) in which the ‘culers’ were far superior and that set a good and beautiful precedent.
Of course, in London they seek revenge. And Chelsea, as well as Barça, are in a good moment before this duel, despite the fact that they arrive with important losses in defense that Jonatan Giráldez’s men should take advantage of. And more knowing that the only Catalan player is Alexia Putellas.
The captain could be the ‘bomb’ for the second leg at the Spotify Camp Nou, although it is difficult to know when she will be able to return after her long injury. But, for this trip, she still hasn’t even though she is in London, training and making a group with her teammates.
It will be a historic match, for it will take place at Stamford Bridge, and for half the ticket for the Eindhoven final is already at stake. A final that is getting closer after, in the case of Barça, leaving Roma in the gutter in the quarterfinals (0-1 in Rome and 5-1 at the Camp Nou).
High-flying game between a Chelsea that is second in the FA Women’s Super League -with 4 points less than the leader Manchester United but with two games pending- and a Barça that is close to sealing another victory in the new F League .
In the preview, the Blaugrana coach assured that, against a Chelsea that stands out for its good defensive work and its cons, they should not stray from the game plan they have prepared. “We have to have control of the ball and our emotions, beyond having chances, and getting a good result, which is the goal for tomorrow,” he said at a press conference.
To look for that good result, the coach had two good news in the previous one; recover Claudia Pina and Asisat Oshoala. Pina, who had a sprained right ankle since mid-March, and the Nigerian forward are in London and at their full disposal.
At Chelsea, Sam Kerr is in top form up front and Pernille Harder is back, but the home side will have doubts about the central defender pairing of Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan. Be that as it may, this Chelsea has, after eliminating the powerful Lyon in the quarterfinals, carte blanche to dream and try to beat another ‘coconut’, Barça.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
CHELSEA: Berger; Périsset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Cuthbert; Leupolz, Reiten; James, Kerr and Charles.
BARÇA FEMALE: Cloths; Bronze, Paredes, Mapi León, Rolfö; Aitana Bonmatí, Walsh, Guijarro; Graham Hansen, Oshoala and Salma Paralluelo.
— REFEREE: Jana Adámková (CZE).
–ESTADIO: Stamford Bridge.