The nightmare continues for FC Barcelona in the Champions League. After the men's elimination on Wednesday in the quarter-finals, overthrown (1-4) by heroic PSG players, it was the women's turn to fall at the Montjuïc Olympic stadium. In the semi-final first leg, Ballon d'Or teammates Aitana Bonmatí lost (0-1) against Chelsea this Saturday afternoon despite the sun and 36,500 spectators present to encourage them. We will have to achieve a feat and win in London, in a week, to hope to reach a new final and retain the title gleaned last year.
For now, the Chelsea Blues have a nice advantage before the return leg. Ogre of Spanish football, the Catalan club had not lost a single match this season, in all competitions. But with their other Ballon d'Or Alexia Putellas on the sidelines to start, the Catalan club never managed to worry their opponent this Saturday: difficult to win a match by not targeting a single shot out of 11 attempts. Even if the Spanish world champion Salma Paralluelo had real opportunities in added time.
Stéphanie Frappart on the whistle
Scottish midfielder and captain Erin Cuthbert scored the goal for England's success, with an adjusted shot at the entrance to the penalty area (27th). Refereeed by Frenchwoman Stéphanie Frappart, this semi-final first leg could have changed at the start of the second period after a penalty awarded following a handball in the Chelsea area. But, aided by VAR, the referee was able to overturn his decision due to offside. At the very end of the match, coming into play, Alexia Putellas had one last opportunity but did not get her shot on target either.
Barça has not missed the grand final since 2020, for two coronations in 2021 and 2023 and a failure in 2022 against OL. It remains to be seen whether the Catalans will have the strength to reverse the situation in a week. The other semi-final first leg pits Lyon against PSG this Saturday (7 p.m.) at Groupama Stadium.