Lineups and group information from Women’s Champions League semi-final

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was left “exhausted” after watching her aspect advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League on penalties towards reigning European champions Lyon at Stamford Bridge.

Hayes’ aspect had been going through elimination two minutes into harm time on the finish of extra-time following Sara Dabritz’s purpose that regarded to have received it for Lyon.

They had been rescued by Maren Mjedle’s penalty after Lauren James had been tripped contained in the field, with a protracted VAR examine leaving the tie in limbo for nearly 5 minutes while a call was reached.

Mjedle then confirmed an ice-cold nerve to step up and take the primary kick of the shootout, earlier than goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger made herself the hero with saves from Wendie Renard and Lindsey Horan to cap an unimaginable fightback.

It stored alive Chelsea’s hopes of turning into the primary English aspect to win the match as they proceed to chase an unprecedented treble.

Chelsea have reached the final 4 of this competitors for the primary time since 2021, knocking out reigning champions and eight-time winners Lyon within the quarter-finals.

They triumphed 4-3 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 mixture draw with Maren Mjelde forcing the shoot-out after a profitable spot kick deep in further time of the second leg.

Barcelona recorded the competitors’s largest ever closing victory with a 4-0 win towards the Blues in Gothenburg in May 2021.

Melanie Leupolz conceded an personal purpose within the opening minute, earlier than Alexia Putellas’ 14th-minute penalty, Aitana Bonmatí (21) and Caroline Graham Hansen (36) rounded off a shocking first-half show as Barcelona claimed their first European title.

Chelsea are the one aspect left on this season’s Women’s Champions League who’re but to elevate the trophy. They welcome Barcelona for the primary leg of their semi-final this afternoon.

Barcelona had been they aspect that ended Chelsea’s closest run to the title, beating them 4-0 within the 2021 WCL closing.

You feared the worst when Leah Williamson went down, after which the worst was confirmed. England’s captain will miss the Women’s World Cup after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament, the scans revealing what these throughout the sport have sadly develop into conditioned to anticipate. Williamson had collapsed over her proper knee within the twelfth minute of Arsenal’s match towards Manchester United on Wednesday and her instant response, in addition to these round her as she hobbled down the tunnel, all however instructed you what had occurred.

It is a devastating blow for Williamson and the Lionesses, however just one that those that are but to get up to the disaster hanging over this summer season’s World Cup will probably be shocked by.

Williamson knew. “I had my tears and made my peace with it the night it happened,” she posted on Instagram shortly after the information broke. Yet there was an extra line from the 26-year-old that emphasised the place girls’s soccer is three months away from the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. “The noise around the situation is loud,” she stated. “Ultimately, I think it’s just my time.”

Chelsea supervisor Emma Hayes says her group must defend “at an unbelievable level” if they’re to greatest Barcelona of their Champions League semi-final.

“It will be tough. We have to play a perfect game, have to execute at both ends of the pitch to give ourselves the perfect chance,” added Hayes.

“We’re a team which is used to struggling, we know how to suffer. We’re going to have to do that for a lot of the game. But we have a dressing room that are motivated and ready to perform.”

Today’s match is being performed at Stamford Bridge and the thrill ranges are constructing already for followers of Emma Hayes’ Chelsea.

The method wherein Barcelona dismantled Roma will fear Chelsea, who’ve lots to show after being so totally crushed by the Catalan membership within the closing in 2021.

The hosts will want a very good first leg efficiency to have any hope of progress.

Chelsea XI: Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Cuthbert, Leupolz, Reiten; Charles, Cankovic, Kerr

Barcelona XI: Panos; Bronze, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro; Graham Hansen, Geyse, Parralluelo

Millie Bright is out for the following “few weeks” on account of a knee harm, with the Chelsea defender pressured to drag out of the England squad earlier in April. Lionesses colleague Fran Kirby has been battling harm for a lot of this season, however Pernille Harder returned to the bench for the FA Cup win towards Aston Villa and will characteristic.

For Barcelona, Alexia Putellas is getting nearer to a return after tearing her ACL simply earlier than final summer season’s Euros. the Midfielder has been again in full coaching, although this primary leg has come too quickly for her. Claudia Pina and Mariona Caldentey are again match.