In the first leg, with a goal in the 4th minute from Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen, Barcelona dominated Chelsea (1-0).

With this victory, Barca has taken a big option on qualification, especially as Jonatan Giraldez's players will be supported by Camp Nou and its 90,000 spectators on Thursday for the return.

The Catalans can also rely on their statistics: they have won 36 of the 37 matches they have played this season, in all competitions, the only defeat having been suffered in Munich, against Bayern, in the pool (3-1).

Better still for Barcelona, they will be able to count on the return to the group of the Ballon d'Or Alexia Putellas, who has received a medical green light to play again. She had suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in her left knee last July.

On the other hand, they will have to do without the English defender Lucy Bronze out on injury in the first leg, hit in the right knee. She was operated successfully, she explained Wednesday on Instagram, less than three months before the World Cup.

Beaten 4-0 by Barcelona in the C1 final in 2021, a score acquired at the break after a poor start to the match, the Londoners will have to redouble their efforts and concentration not to sink from the beginning of the match and give themselves a small chance.

Norway's Guro Reiten scores for Chelsea against Barcelona in the C1 semi-final first leg but her goal will be disallowed for offside on April 22, 2023 at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London © Adrian DENNIS / AFP / Archives

In defence, they have to do without England's Millie Bright, currently also in the infirmary due to a knee injury.

Last Saturday at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had several chances to get back on the scoreboard, such as Guro Reiten, who came close to equalising. A goal was denied for offside at the start of the action.

In the other semi-final second leg next Monday, Arsenal will host Wolfsburg Wolfsburg Wolfsburg at the Emirates Stadium, in front of more than 50,000 people.

Sunday in the first leg, the Londoners, led 2-0 after about twenty minutes, snatched the draw on the lawn of Wolfsburg (2-2), leaving very open the return match.

"It feels like a defeat at first. The disappointment is there, but we did a lot of good things. We are able to beat Arsenal," German international Merle Frohms said on Sunday.

A pioneer of women's football, Arsenal have not played in the Champions League final since their coronation in 2007, the only one won by an English club so far, while Wolfsburg are aiming for a sixth final in eleven years, dreaming of a third continental title after 2013 and 2014.

Falling to Paris SG in the quarterfinals, the Wolfsburg players were without their star striker, Germany's Alexandra Popp, but relied on Iceland's Sveindis Jonsdottir, 21.

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Frida Maanum during the C1 semi-final first leg against VFL Wolfsboug on April 23, 2023 in Wolfsburg © Ronny Hartmann / AFP/Archives

Arsenal also have suffered numerous injuries: centre-back and captain Leah Williamson, due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, the same injury that is likely to deprive her attacking partner, Beth Mead.

The final is scheduled for June 3 in Eindhoven (Netherlands).

Schedule of the Women's Champions League semi-finals second leg played on Thursday 27 April and Monday 1 May:

Thursday

(18:45) FC Barcelona (ESP) v Chelsea (ENG)

Monday

(18:45) Arsenal (ENG) - Wolfsburg (GER)

© 2023 AFP