FC Barcelona Reach Fifth Successive Women's Champions League Final
European champions FC Barcelona saw off the challenge of Chelsea for the third successive season to reach a record-equalling fifth Women's Champions League final in a row.
Leading 4-1 from the first leg played last Sunday in Spain, Barcelona increased their advantage today at Stamford Bridge to reach their sixth Champions League final in seven seasons.
Despite a forceful start by the home side, they failed to make the crucial early breakthrough which they required to overturn the aggregate scoreline. Barcelona made them pay on the counter-attack. In the 25th minute, the Ballon D'Or winner Aitana Bomatí raced half the length of the field before smashing the ball past England goalkeeper at her near post.
Aitana had incredibly scored at the same end of the same ground on the same day of 2024. That goal also came in the second leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final. Then, it brought Barcelona back into the tie after they had lost the first leg at home, now it effectively killed the tie. The goal was Aitana's 26th in the UEFA Women's Champions League, moving her level with her former team-mate Jenni Hermoso as Spain's leading goalscorer in the history of the competition.
Sixteen minutes later, Caroline Graham Hansen danced her way to the touchline before squaring the ball across the six yard area for Ewa Pajor to tap in. Pajor has now scored 33 Champions League goals, moving her into 15th position on the all-time list of scorers.
Chelsea barely had time to regroup before the competition's top scorer, Claudia Pina curled a majestic effort into the top corner of Hampton's goal. It was the forward's 10th goal in the competiton this season. Not always a starter in the side, Pina's 10 goals have come in eight matches at an incredible average of a goal every 42 minutes.
Having also won the competition in 2021 and lost the final in 2022, Barcelona have now reached a fifth consecutive final. This has only previously been achieved by Real Madrid men's team (1956-60) and Olympique Lyonnais women's team (2016-2020).
Both of those teams won each of those five finals, something Barcelona cannot achieve this season. However, they could join another elite group of teams if they retain the Champions League title.
Winners of the competition for the past two seasons, FC Barcelona will aim to win a third consecutive title in next month's final in Lisbon, joining a rare groups of teams in the history of the sport - Real Madrid, Ajax, FC Bayern in the men's game and Olympique Lyonnais in the women's.
Chelsea, now led by former Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor, are on the brink of securing a sixth consecutive English league title and remain unbetaen in the Women's Super League. Having already won the Women's League Cup and reaching the final of the Women's FA Cup, they, like Barcelona, had been on course to win all four competitions they had entered this season - the so-called quadruple.
That dream is now over. They have gone out of the only competition the club has never before won at the semi-final stage for the fourth time - and the third year in a row against Barcelona. Indeed, having also lost the 2022 final to the Catalan side, Barcelona has now ended Chelsea's Champions League hopes in four of the past five seasons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A guide to multi-club ownership: How does it work?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Red Bull-related clubs Leeds United (top-left), Salzburg (top-right), Leipzig (bottom-left) and New York (bottom-right). | Credit: Future Multi-club ownership is increasingly common in football, with plenty of big-money owners splashing out to take control of several clubs around the world. Advertisement Take Red Bull, for instance. They have varying stakes in Leeds United, FC Liefering, New York Red Bulls, Paris FC, RB Leipzig, TV Omiya Ardija, Red Bull Bragantino and Red Bull Salzburg. Several English clubs are part of similar models to different degrees, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and… well, loads more, including down in the lower leagues. So what are the rules on multi-club ownership? Can you own two clubs in the same league? Sir Jim Ratcliffe was linked with buying Chelsea before he bought Manchester United – and he certainly couldn't buy the Blues now | Credit: Getty Images Not in England you can't, certainly not at Premier League and EFL level. The EFL Owners and Directors' Test will automatically disqualify directors who hold an 'interest' in more than one club within the EFL, while the Premier League's own rules say that 'no Person may either directly or indirectly be involved in or have any power to determine or influence the management or administration of more than one [Premier League] Club.' Advertisement While that only applies within each league, the FA have an overarching rule with the same wording as the Premier League that applies to the entire English football pyramid. There is some suggestion that one person/company could own a stake of less than 25%, which would not represent significant control of any one club. That's a higher threshold than is set by UEFA; their rules mean a majority owner of one club could have a less than 50 per cent stake in another club playing in the same competition. That's the lowest bar available, though, and it's up to individual countries' FA to decide if they want to be stricter. Can two clubs from the same ownership compete in Europe? Girona's participation in Europe asked questions of UEFA | Credit: Getty Images This increasingly contentious issue came to a head in 2024 after Girona qualified for the Champions League and Nice qualified for the Europa League. Advertisement The issue was the Girona are part of the City Football Group alongside Manchester City, who also qualified for the Champions League. Manchester United meanwhile joined Nice in the Europa League; both clubs are at least part-owned by INEOS, headed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. UEFA ultimately decided that each pair of clubs could compete in the same continental competition as long as: No one is simultaneously involved, directly or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and/or sporting performance of more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition; and No one has control or decisive influence over more than one club participating in a UEFA club competition. Essentially, then, no one person can be involved in the running or decision-making of two or more clubs within a single UEFA competition. City Football Group and INEOS swiftly made sure they were in line with that, and all four clubs were permitted entry to their respective competitions. That's why Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis recently officially ceased to be a 'person of significant control' at the club. Advertisement Forest could potentially end up qualifying for either the Champions League or Europa League with Greek side Olympiacos next season. They're also owned by Marinakis, and so he had to officially step away from Forest to ensure they didn't run into any trouble should that occur. On top of that, clubs in that kind of situation have to apply to UEFA to get the all-clear to proceed into competition against one another. For 2024/25, UEFA allowed clubs to transfer the club to an 'independent third party', like a blind trust, which would be appointed to look out for the interests of that club only, without any consideration for the wider ownership group. Do clubs from the same ownership share resources? City are part of a much bigger network | Credit: Getty Images As far as we can tell, there's nothing to stop them from sharing scouting info and things like that as long as they're not in the same European competition as one another. Advertisement UEFA are keen to ensure that clubs remain independent from one another. To that end, they got a commitment from City Football Group and INEOS that they would not transfer players to one another until September 2025, nor would they 'conclude any kind of cooperation, joint technical or commercial agreements between each other' or 'use any joint scouting or player database'. It seems likely that they would ask for a similar commitment from any other clubs who face a similar situation in future. What's to stop clubs from the same ownership transferring players to each other for free? Red Bull players have often moved between clubs | Credit:Three words: 'associated party transactions'. Advertisement In the Premier League, the rules say that any transfers between 'associated parties' (i.e. clubs within the same ownership group) need to be assessed by the Premier League first to see whether they represent 'fair market value'. What that means is a judgement call for the Premier League assessors, but they could put a halt to any proposed transfer that was 'evidently not' at fair market value. We're not sure it would really be in clubs' interests to try and fiddle it that way, anyway. Each league has its own version of the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability Rules that need to be met. In their current form, both clubs would generally be better off just doing trades between themselves at 'fair market value' anyway, for boring accounting reasons that we won't get into here.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Crystal Palace's European ban explained: Why the Eagles could be kicked out completely... and allow Brighton to profit
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Eberechi Eze celebrates victory over Manchester City with his Crystal Palace team-mates at the end of the FA Cup final in May 2025. | Credit: Getty Images Crystal Palace have qualified for the Europa League – but might not actually get to play in the competition. Advertisement The Eagles won a first major trophy in their 119-year history last month, with Ebere Eze's sole strike clinching the FA Cup for Oliver Glasner's side against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. But having qualified for Europe on the back of that cup success, their participation in the Europa League is at threat, thanks to their owners' stake in another club in that competition. Why are Crystal Palace at threat of being kicked out of Europe? John Textor owns Palace and Lyon | Credit: JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images Crystal Palace's majority owner John Textor – who controls 45 per cent of the South London outfit – is the president and owner of Lyon, who like Palace, have qualified for the Europa League next season. Advertisement Under UEFA's so-called Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) rule, 'no individual or legal entity may have 'control or decisive influence' over more than one club' competing in European competition, in order to limit multi-club ownership in Europe's top leagues. What are Palace planning to do about this? Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Eagles The South London outfit must now show UEFA's club financial control body (CFCB) that they do not fall foul of the rules around multi-club ownership. Despite Textor's majority stake in Palace, the American businessman does not have a defining voice in the boardroom, with his group Eagle Football only having a 25 per cent share of voting rights alongside fellow principal owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and chairman Steve Parish, who all own 10 per cent of the club each. Advertisement This has actually been a source of contention for Textor in the past, with the 59-year-old announcing his intention to buy Everton last year, to avoid the politics of the Selhurst Park backroom. Given that Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1, the French giants are given precedence to appear in the competition ahead of Palace, who finished 12th in the Premier League. Wouldn't Palace simply qualify for the Conference League if they lose their case? You'd think so… but there's an added spanner in the works: David Blitzer owns a majority stake in Brondby, with his Global Football Holdings company. The Danish side qualified for the Conference League next term via a third-placed finish in the league – again, higher than Palace's 12th – and if Palace's case for playing in the Europa is that Blitzer and Co. have more of a say than Textor when it comes to the running of the Eagles, it doesn't bode well for participation in the Conference League. How can Palace keep their place in the Europa League? Oliver Glasner is hoping to manage in Europe next season | Credit: Alamy While Palace hope that Textor's current involvement is enough to satisfy UEFA, official steps can be taken, should they fail to convince the CFCB that no rules have been breached. Advertisement Recently, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis made similar moves to ensure no conflict of interest between the Tricky Trees and his Greek club, Olympiacos, by officially ceasing to be a 'person with significant control' in the limited company that owned the club. By putting his shares in Forest into a blind trust, the Greek businessman remained co-owner at the City Ground while no longer having a say in the running of the club. Could Brighton profit from all of this? Brighton could sneak into Europe on the back of Palace's misfortune | Credit: Alamy Potentially: as the next best-placed team in the Premier League, Brighton and Hove Albion are on standby to pick up a European spot in the event that their bitter rivals are denied theirs. Advertisement The Seagulls would qualify for the Conference League, should Palace get kicked out of Europe, with Forest getting a promotion to the Europa League instead, as a higher-placed team in the table. Is it likely that Palace will be kicked out? UEFA will decide Palace's fate this month | Credit: PA Images We simply don't know, and neither do UEFA right now, dropping a vague comment that 'We do not comment on individual club cases until an official decision has been made.' We will find out sometime this month but given that the CFCB cleared both Manchester clubs last summer, FourFourTwo expects this one to be fairly straightforward on paper for Palace.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Inter Milan Croatia International Explains Nerazzurri Transfer: 'Inter A Top Club In Europe'
Petar Sucic officially became a new Inter Milan player today after completing his long-awaited transfer from Dinamo Zagreb. Speaking to Inter TV via FCInterNews, he revealed why he decided to join the Nerazzurri despite being courted by other top clubs. Advertisement Inter and Dinamo agreed Sucic's transfer toward the end of January. However, the Serie A runners-up left the 21-year-old on loan until the end of the season. Indeed, Petar Sucic had struggled with a long-term knee injury when the clubs struck an agreement. Therefore, Inter thought staying in his homeland for six more months would be in his best interest. But the waiting is over. Sucic signed the papers today, meaning he will be available for Inter's upcoming trip to North America. The Nerazzurri will fight for FIFA Club World Cup glory, and the Croatian midfielder will likely be part of the squad. Petar Sucic Reveals Why He Joined Inter Milan 'To me, Inter is one of the biggest clubs in Europe,' he stated. 'When the opportunity arose to come here, I had absolutely no doubts. Advertisement 'I really wanted to join, it's a huge opportunity. I know how prestigious this club is and what it represents, and I'm very happy to be here.' Meanwhile, Sucic worked under former Inter defender Fabio Cannavaro toward the end of his Dinamo Zagreb career. 'He spoke very highly of it – about the league, the club, about Italy, and about Milan. We had a great chat.' Then, he discussed his potential role at Inter. 'I don't really like to talk about myself,' he added. 'I'm a player who enjoys playing for the team. 'And I want to help my teammates as much as possible and give everything I've got. 'I'm very happy to be here and can't wait to get started.' Advertisement Furthermore, Sucic believes this move will help him grow as a player. 'I think I'll be able to learn a lot. This club has very experienced players – top-level ones – who have played in the Champions League for years, and who've featured in World Cups, European Championships, Copa América… 'All of that proves how much experience they have, and I believe they can really help me. 'Personally, I think I can improve tactically, defensively, and offensively. 'Nobody is ever perfect, and I believe you have to try to grow every day – that's what I'll work hard to do. 'I don't really know how to introduce myself. As I said earlier, I'll try to do my best and help the team. Advertisement 'I'll give everything I have on the pitch, I'll give everything for this club. That's definitely what fans can expect from me.' Finally, he admitted he spoke with ex-Inter stars Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic. 'Definitely. I spoke with them before coming here. 'They confirmed how big this club is, how prestigious it is, and they told me a lot of positive things. 'It made the decision really easy for me. They all wished me the best of luck in this new adventure.'
