Chelsea will be hoping to achieve their greatest European feat when they take on Spanish giants FC Barcelona in the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final tie at the Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday evening.
The Blues trail 1-0 from the first leg and the odds are stacked heavily against Emma Hayes’ side as they head to Spain.
Ahead of the return fixture, FAWSL Full-Time have reviewed the UEFA match facts. Here are three points to note about Chelsea’s semi-final, second leg tie in Barcelona.
Barca’s long unbeaten run
If they are to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, Chelsea must become the first team to win in Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League since March 2018. The Catalan club were last defeated on home soil in Europe by Lyon in the 2017/2018 quarter-finals.
Chelsea aiming to replicate 2020/2021 drama
Chelsea have qualified from just one of their previous three semi-final ties, however, that victory came in their last appearance at the same stage in 2020/2021. Trailing 2-1 from their semi-final, first leg tie against Bayern Munich, The Blues won the second leg 4-1 at Kingsmeadow thanks to a Fran Kirby double and goals from Ji So-yun and Pernille Harder.
Semi-final specialists
Barcelona are appearing in their fifth consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final. The Spanish club have won three of their last four semi-finals, winning the tournament in 2020/2021 when they defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the final in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final, second leg tie between Barcelona and Chelsea kicks-off at 5.45pm on Thursday evening.
Statistics: UEFA Information Kit