Barça 0-1 Chelsea: Win required in London

FC Barcelona have lost at home to Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final meaning there is a comeback now required and they'll need to do it on foreign turf. The Londoners hardly had a wealth of opportunities, but Cuthbert made the most of one of the few and much as the Catalans pressed and pressed in search of answer, they were unable to find it.

Stunned at home

An immense crowd of 36,428 was at the Estadi Olímpic and early doors there only seemed to one side in it as Barça pushed forward in search of an early goal to calm the semi-final nerves. But none of Aitana, Paralluelo or Graham could convert their chances as Chelsea, without making too much noise, calmly kept things under control from their point of view.

As the first drew on, the visitors started to show that they are a more than decent side themselves, but where Barça failed Chelsea did take their chance when it came, with Cuthbert finishing of a move expertly orchestrated by her team-mate Nüsken.

The goal seemed to inspire Chelsea towards greater things, and they defended with increased verve as Barça desperately tried to get back into the game and quick.

Unrewarded reaction

Alexia, Vicky López and Lucy Bronze provided fresh blood in the second half and the second half was one-way Culer traffic in search of an equaliser. Paralluelo had the best of many, many chances, but not even with seven minutes of injury time could the Catalans squander back a goal to make things easier for the return game in London next week.

Agonisingly, Alexia missed a sitter right at the end that would have meant the teams would be going all-square into the game at Stamford Bridge. Instead, Chelsea will be starting with a one-goal head start. A difficult challenge, but one that the blaugrana women will nevertheless feel confident that they are able to rise to. To be continued...

MATCH STATS

BARÇA, 0
CHELSEA, 1

Barça: Cata Coll, Paredes, Paralluelo, Mariona (Vicky López,min. 73), Graham, Patri, Aitana, Rolfo, Walsh, O. Batlle (Bronze, min. 63), Engen (Alexia, min. 63).

Chelsea: Hampton, Charles, Buchanan, Carter, Lawrence, Leupolz, Nüsken, Cutthbert, Kaneryd, Ramírez (Reiten, min. 92), James (Macario, min. 76).

Goals: 0-1, Curthbert (min. 40)

Referees: Stéphanie Frappart, Camille Soriano & Elodie Coppola. Yellow cards for Patri & Irene Paredes