Goals from Aitana Bonmati, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina and Salma Paralluelo sealed the Catalans' place in May's final as they bid to defend their title
Barcelona will head to Lisbon next month hoping to successfully defend their European title for a second season in a row after humbling Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Leading 4-1 from the first leg in Catalunya, the holders wasted no time at all in putting this Champions League semi-final tie well and truly to bed, racing into a 3-0 lead before half-time in an eventual 4-1 win at a ground where they've now won on each of their three visits.
There were chances for Chelsea to get back into this affair before Barca killed it, too. Sandy Baltimore just couldn't connect properly with Mayra Ramirez's cutback and Sjoeke Nusken was denied by Cata Coll when she raced through one-on-one in a hectic sequence at the midway point of the first half, one which came only two minutes before Aitana Bonmati all-but-secured Barcelona's passage to the final. The two-time Ballon d'Or winner was granted far too much space throughout the encounter and she made the Blues pay when her thumping finish broke the deadlock.
Ewa Pajor's close-range finish, after sublime wide play by Caroline Graham Hansen, doubled that lead just before half-time, and then Claudia Pina added a sensational third with a curling strike from range. It was more than enough to win a tie that was well out of Chelsea's reach before it even reached their own patch, in truth, giving Barcelona a shot at a Champions League three-peat next month while leaving the Blues with plenty of food for thought going into next season.
There was at least a late consolation for the home fans to cheer, delivered to them by Wieke Kaptein, but only after Salma Paralluelo was able to profit from a defensive mishap between Niamh Charles and Hannah Hampton that summed up a hugely disappointing tie from the Blues' perspective.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…
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Hannah Hampton (5/10):
Swept up well and made a couple of decent stops. Should've taken more control for the fourth goal, however.
Lucy Bronze (5/10):
Was not as guilty as others at giving Barca too much space, though didn't exactly have a stand-out game.
Naomi Girma (5/10):
Had a few sloppy moments on the ball but, like Bronze, was better than most in her defending. Off at half-time, as she continues to build her fitness back up after injury.
Millie Bright (3/10):
Didn't communicate with Nusken to stop Bonmati scoring the first, then let Pajor have far too much space for the second.
Niamh Charles (3/10):
Her desperate lunge was easily avoided by Bonmati as she burst through to break the deadlock, and then her indecision proved costly for Barca's fourth.
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Keira Walsh (4/10):
Just didn't do enough defensively to stop Barca, with her lack of engagement with Pina for the third goal a perfect example.
Erin Cuthbert (6/10):
One of Chelsea's best performers on a bad day. Offered creativity going forward and plenty of focus and tenacity off the ball.
Sjoeke Nusken (5/10):
Provided a lot of positives going forward, but left a lot to be desired defensively.
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Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (4/10):
Didn't get involved enough at all.
Mayra Ramirez (4/10):
Didn't hold the ball up well enough, was offside at frustrating times and gave away needless fouls. Went off at half-time.
Sandy Baltimore (6/10):
Another rare bright spot on a difficult day. Provided a lively outlet that gave Chelsea some threat in the final third.
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Ashley Lawrence (6/10):
Settled in well at a left-back position she doesn't play too often after being introduced at the break. Helped keep Barca a little quieter in attack.
Aggie Beever-Jones (6/10):
Full of running and endeavour after coming on at half-time. Couldn't fault that effort and her desire to try and make things happen, even if they didn't always come off.
Catarina Macario (5/10):
Had a couple of decent chances to get a consolation on the board, but didn't convert either.
Wieke Kaptein (6/10):
Brought plenty of energy and created a couple of openings. Grabbed a consolation with a great finish late on.
Maika Hamano (N/A):
On for the closing stages. A surprise that she didn't feature more across this tie.
Sonia Bompastor (4/10):
Had to go for it given the first-leg defeat, but the decision to start Charles at left-back rather than Baltimore proved costly, with both of Barca's first two goals coming down that side. Macario could feel aggrieved not to get the nod as well, having starred in midweek.