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Barcelona and Chelsea Set for Third Consecutive Women's Champions League Semi-Final Clash

The defending champions and three-time winners face a determined Chelsea side seeking their first European title under new coach Sonia Bompastor.

Chelsea Barcelona GFX
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - First Leg - FC Barcelona v Chelsea - Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barcelona, Spain - April 20, 2025 FC Barcelona's Alexia Putellas celebrates with teammates after the match REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - First Leg - FC Barcelona v Chelsea - Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barcelona, Spain - April 20, 2025 FC Barcelona's Fridolina Rolfo, FC Barcelona's Ingrid Engen and FC Barcelona's Alexia Putellas celebrate after the match REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Semi Final - First Leg - FC Barcelona v Chelsea - Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barcelona, Spain - April 20, 2025 Chelsea's Johanna Rytting Kaneryd in action with FC Barcelona's Fridolina Rolfo REUTERS/Albert Gea

Overview

  • Barcelona and Chelsea meet in the Women's Champions League semi-finals for the third straight year, with the first leg taking place today at the Estadi Johan Cruyff at 5:00 PM BST.
  • Barcelona, aiming for a fourth European title in five years, have eliminated Chelsea at this stage in the past two seasons and defeated them in the 2021 final.
  • Chelsea, under new coach Sonia Bompastor, are pursuing their first Champions League title and remain unbeaten domestically this season, with a quadruple still in sight.
  • Key players for Chelsea include former Barcelona stars Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh, while the team will be without injured forward Lauren James; Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen is fit to start despite illness concerns.
  • Barcelona's Aitana Bonmatí described the fixture as a 'good rivalry' that pushes both teams to improve, with Chelsea hoping to end their run of defeats against the Spanish giants.