Barcelona vs Chelsea LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction after the Blues’ historic win

Somehow, Chelsea and Emma Hayes produced the unthinkable. The English champions looked to survive and stay in the tie, but Erin Cuthbert’s goal and a first-ever victory against the all-conquering Barcelona ensures Chelsea will take a 1-0 lead back to Stamford Bridge for next week’s semi-final second leg. Avoid defeat there, and Hayes will be a game away from ending her 12-year Chelsea reign with a final shot at the only trophy that has eluded her.

This result, ensures the final weeks of her time at Chelsea have produced another famous day in the club’s history. Chelsea were outstanding and Barcelona, a team who won every trophy there was to win last season, failed to score for the first time in almost two years.

Emma Hayes had mixed feelings despite seeing Chelsea condemn holders Barcelona to a first home defeat for five years and edge closer to the Women’s Champions League final.

Erin Cuthbert’s first-half goal clinched a precious 1-0 semi-final first-leg win at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to set the Women’s Super League leaders up perfectly for the return at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.

It was a first competitive victory for the Blues over Barca, who knocked them out at the same stage last season on their way to a second European title, and came courtesy of a superb defensive effort – but boss Hayes was left wondering what might have been.

The Chelsea manager called for a sold-out Stamford Bridge for the return leg and said: “It’s essential.”

“Our girls deserve to play in front of a full house to give ourselves the best possible chance,” Hayes said.

“We will need the crowd. Barcelona will throw absolutely everything at us. For us to progress, we need absolutely everything.”

So, a historic afternoon for Chelsea as they beat Barcelona for the first time, and simultaneously put one foot in the Champions League final.

They take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge for the second leg, as they bid to get to just a second final in Emma Hayes’ last season in charge.

That game will take place a week today, on 27 April at Stamford Bridge. It will kick off at 5.30pm BST.

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A reminder of how to watch today’s other women’s Champions League semi-final, between Lyon and PSG.

The match will kick off at 6pm BST (UK time) on Saturday 20 April. It will be played at the OL Stadium.

Watch the Women’s Champions League Semi-Finals for free on DAZN.

Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh spoke to BBC after the game.

“We’re very disappointed. Nobody wants to lose at home and it’s a massive game.

“We played large parts of the game in their half and had most of the ball. We have so many special players and we’re really positive going into the second leg. The job is not done.

“It’s difficult in midfield. They were very intense, very aggressive.

We had more space on the outside. We can still move the ball a lot quicker side to side and that’s where the spaces were. We have things to improve on but we had clear chances and we can take that into the next game.”

On the return leg, she says that she imagines “Chelsea will play much the same and we know we have a massive job to do when we get there”.

Jess Carter deservedly won Uefa’s player of the match after a magnificent defensive effort, though goalscorer Erin Cuthbert won the award on Dazn. Both were tremendous today.

For Chelsea, attention remains solely on preparing for the return leg, which kicks off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 27 April at 5.30pm.

The London side don’t play again in the WSL until 1 May, away against Liverpool. They currently lead the league on goal difference from Manchester City.

Emma Hayes is the first to speak to DAZN. The outgoing Chelsea manager says that it is “just half-time”, and she is “a little frustrated to be honest, but it’s a difficult place to come”.

“A lot of teams come here and go one or two down early on. They have unbelievable players that are world-class in everything they do, but I think for the most part we limited them. 

“We’ve underperformed when we have played at home [in the past], but I think they have another level in them. We have to anticipate that. 

“You need a little bit of luck. The way they play football is beautiful.”

Regarding next week’s return leg, she says that Chelsea “will only be as strong as the crowd that comes out”.

“It’s important that we pack Stamford Bridge out to give ourselves a chance against the best team in the world. 

“If you switch off for one second, they will defeat us.”

For the home side, that’s their first competitive defeat since 2019.

Attention will briefly return to the Liga F, though it’ll be hard to fully concentrate on their fixture against Levante Las Planas in midweek.

The Catalan side currently lead the league by nine points on rivals Real Madrid in second, and they have a game in hand too.

So, Chelsea beat Barcelona for the first time and head back to Stamford Bridge with a slender lead in the tie.

They’ll be gutted that Ramirez hadn’t put them 2-0 up earlier, but they’ll be similarly relieved that Putellas couldn’t put that chance away right at the end. How costly could those two misses prove for each side?

The finalists will be decided a week today in London.