Barça takes Stamford Bridge and approaches Eindhoven
Those of Jonatan Giráldez, with a goal from Caroline Graham Hansen, beat Chelsea and will have to finish off the job at the Camp Nou
MADRID, 22 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça for women beat Chelsea (0-1) this Saturday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, where a solitary goal from Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen in the opening minutes was enough to strike first in the tie and reach the return match at the Spotify Camp Nou with an advantage, where the pass to the final in Eindhoven (Netherlands) will be played.
In the reissue of the 2021 final, in which the blaugranas won their first and so far only continental title, Jonatan Giráldez’s team needed just four minutes to open the account, in a magnificent action by Caroline Graham Hansen starting from the wing right.
The Norwegian extreme planted herself in the front line and, with her left leg, executed a sensational shot before which the ‘blue’ goalkeeper could do nothing. With his ninth goal of the season, the first in the highest European competition, he offered peace of mind to the culé team, which continued to create danger.
After a quarter of an hour, Geyse tried his luck with a shot that Berger saved, and Sam Kerr responded minutes later and also examined a Sandra Paños who until then had not had to intervene. The Australian forward herself participated after 24 minutes in the play that ended with Guro Reiten sending the ball into the back of the Barça goal, but the referee annulled the goal for offside.
The English began to grow and before half an hour they had their best chance in a shot from Reiten that Lucy Bronze managed to clear almost under the sticks. Pressing up and depriving the visitors of possession, Chelsea added intensity to a duel that Barça only managed to control somewhat after the break.
The ‘blue’ box brought on Lauren James at the restart and searched for her with long balls, but Jonatan Giráldez’s men dedicated themselves to trying to slow down to be able to command. A Cuthbert header and Lucy Bronze’s injury upset the script for the blaugranas, who even so had the opportunity to make it 0-2 after a shot by Marta Torrejón that hit the right post in the 81st minute.
Little by little, the culés were closing spaces and leaving the local team without reaction. Now, Barça will have to defend their income in the second leg next Thursday at the Spotify Camp Nou, where they will play the ticket to Eindhoven and play their fourth Champions League final.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: CHELSEA, 0 – BARÇA, 1 (0-1, at halftime).
–LINEUPS:
CHELSEA: Berger; Périsset (Rytting Kaneryd, min.84), Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Leupolz (Fleming, min.83), Reiten (Harder, min.84), Cuthbert (Ingle, min.68); Charles, Cankovic (Lauren James, min.46) y Kerr.
BARÇA: Sandra Cloths; Lucy Bronze (Marta Torrejón, min.67), Irene Paredes, Mapi León, Rolfo; Keira Walsh (Syrstad Engen, min.84), Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí; Salma Paralluelo, Geyse (Mariona Caldentey, min.60) and Graham Hansen (Oshoala, min.84).
–GOALS:
0-1, min. 4: Graham Hansen.
–REFEREE: Jana Adamkova (CZE). He admonished Kerr (min.38) and James (min.71) for Chelsea and Mapi León (min.41), Keira Walsh (min.63) and Sandra Paños (min.93) for Barça.
–STADIUM: Stamford Bridge. 27,697 spectators.