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The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Favourites Barcelona not taking Arsenal lightly in women's CL final
Soccer Football - Women's Champions League - Final - FC Barcelona Training - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - May 23, 2025 FC Barcelona's Salma Paralluelo during training REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura LISBON (Reuters) - Although Barcelona are strong favourites to hoist the women's Champions League trophy on Saturday for the fourth time in five years, they will be taking nothing for granted. Barcelona play Arsenal at Lisbon's Estadio Jose Alvalade and while the London side were the 2007 champions and once regulars in the competition's latter stages, the pendulum has now swung heavily in the Spanish side's favour. Barcelona players have made 48 collective appearances in Champions League finals, according to Opta Sports, while Mariona Caldentey is their only Arsenal player to have featured in the final, playing in five for Barcelona between 2019-24. "A final is unpredictable. There may be things you can't control," Barca midfielder Alexia Putellas told reporters on Friday. "We know we can do it. It is true that Arsenal are a great team and that they are in the final for a reason." Aitana Bonmati, the Ballon d'Or winner in 2023 and 2024, said the experience gained from previous finals was invaluable. "I've learned a lot of things. It is the path that has fallen to us. The first final in Budapest was an inexperienced team that was going to see what happened. Now we are the team to beat," she said. "Knowing how to be, knowing how to suffer is very important. And never giving up. We have had finals where we have come back. We have had games of all colours." Arsenal were Barcelona's first opponents in Europe's top club competition in the 2012-13 season, when the English side crushed the Catalans 7-0 over two legs. Barcelona were nowhere near as good as they are now, however. They overwhelmed Chelsea, who went unbeaten across the 22-game Women's Super League season en route to winning the title, 8-2 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals. "Everything leads you to be what you are now," Putellas said. "In that first match of this competition it was unthinkable what would come next. It's thanks to work. I feel privileged to have been able to live this whole journey." Barcelona coach Pere Romeu described Arsenal as a "brave team" who are strong in the box. "We will have to show our best version," he said. "We know the type of game we want to play. We are a team with records, with mastery at different times. We will try to exploit the space they leave us." (Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Ed Osmond)
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Barcelona's rampant win over Chelsea exposed the gulf in class the WSL must conquer
Long before even half-time, it was apparent that the only comeback at Stamford Bridge was going to be the return of Barcelona to the Women's Champions League final again. Chelsea just couldn't get close, in scoreline, in performance, or even in terms of basic space. Much of the game seemed to be the excellent Aitana Bonmati just gliding around the pitch unbothered, free to do with the ball what she wanted. And that was often something exquisite, such as when she hammered the brilliant first goal into the corner to set things off. The 4-1 scoreline of the first leg was repeated, to make it a chastening 8-2 on aggregate. There's actually a lot to take from that, despite the game quickly evolving into a non-event as a contest. No one in football can really replicate what Barcelona do. This is the outstanding team of the age, now fittingly on the brink of the European gold-standard feat of three Champions Leagues in a row, to potentially make it five in six years. And who would currently rule out Barcelona matching the record of five in a row. Lyon, the only club to have achieved that, are now out after Arsenal's sensational comeback victory. The Gunners' 5-3 win on aggregate offers English football the chance to change the narrative. The persistent return of such clubs as Barcelona and Lyon does point to wider issues, too. For all the burgeoning popularity of the women's game – witnessed in the 26,702 crowd at a gloriously sunny Stamford Bridge – as well as England's very status as European champions, they haven't been able to translate that into success at European club level. Arsenal are evidently going to have to do something even more miraculous than their Lyon comeback if they are to beat this team. Barcelona's last final against an English club, again against Chelsea, ended in a 4-0 win. Some of that is just down to fact the Catalans are one of the game's superclubs. It is very difficult for anyone to reach that level. There are two elements within that, however, that both Chelsea and English football could do with thinking about much more. They are all the more pertinent since so much of this match reflected an issue that arose in the 2023 World Cup, and is going to be a theme of the summer. Barcelona and Spain have a superior assembly line of talent. It can be witnessed in how many of these players illuminate the world champions. Five of the starting XI lifted the trophy in Australia, with Salma Paralluelo also coming off the bench. Bonmati displayed all of her talent as the best player in the world with that first goal on 26 minutes. As impressive as the aesthetic was the sheer audacity. To even try the shot from that angle was illustrative of her effervescent quality. Fifteen minutes later, there was a goal appropriately showcasing the entire Catalan-Spanish style, as Barcelona played their way through for Ewa Pajor to tap in after Caroline Graham cut the ball back. How many times have we seen Barcelona and general Spanish teams score exactly that type of goal over the years? From that, and with Barcelona so comfortable they could just enjoy themselves, Claudia Pina just decided to go for it. Mere moments after Pawor's goal, the forward drove a supreme arching long-range strike in off the post. That was a moment when it felt like this could get very bad for Chelsea. Niamh Charles's error for Paralluelo's late goal was instead the worst it got. It was still hard to square with the reality that Sonia Bompastor's team featured four English European champions of their own, but that is where there is a bigger issue. It is not just the development of talent. It is the context the talent plays in. You can bridge a technical gap with tactics. You can't if the opposition's very tactical ideology is superior. Barcelona displayed that defined ideology, one that most of their players have grown up with. The real key to this is how it amplifies the ability of their players, and the team as whole. Hence displays that look so thoroughly convincing. Chelsea, for their part, did display some typically creditable resilience. Things might have gone a little differently had Sjoeke Nusken scored an early chance. Chelsea also prevented that bad moment just before half-time becoming utterly humiliating. Catalina Coll was forced into at least three fine saves, and substitute Wieke Kaptein finally gave the crowd something to cheer about. By that point, the talk of comebacks had long gone. The real discussion should be how Chelsea get to this level, and back into Champions League finals. An 8-2 aggregate scoreline didn't really tell the reality of the gap.
The Independent
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
How Barcelona's rampant win over Chelsea exposed the gulf in class the WSL must conquer
Long before even half-time, it was apparent that the only comeback at Stamford Bridge was going to be the return of Barcelona to the Women's Champions League final again, to once more meet Lyon. Chelsea just couldn't get close, in scoreline, in performance, or even in terms of basic space. Much of the game seemed to be the excellent Aitana Bonmati just gliding around the pitch unbothered, free to do with the ball what she wanted. And that was often something exquisite, such as when she hammered the brilliant first goal into the corner to set things off. The 4-1 scoreline of the first leg was repeated, to make it a chastening 8-2 on aggregate. There's actually a lot to take from that, despite the game quickly evolving into a non-event as a contest. No one in football can really replicate what Barcelona do. This is the outstanding team of the age, now fittingly on the brink of the European gold-standard feat of three Champions Leagues in a row, to potentially make it five in six years. And who would currently rule out Barcelona matching the record of five in a row, making it all the more fitting that it is Lyon - the only team to manage that feat - now blocking their way. The persistent return of such clubs does point to wider issues, too. For all the burgeoning popularity of the women's game - witnessed in the 26,702 crowd at a gloriously sunny Stamford Bridge - as well as England's very status as European champions, they haven't been able to translate that into success at European club level. Chelsea are still the only English club to reach a final in 19 years, and that was when they were also eviscerated 4-0 by Barcelona in 2021. Some of that is just down to fact the Catalans are one of the game's super-clubs. It is very difficult for anyone to reach that level. There are two elements within that, however, that both Chelsea and English football could do with thinking about much more. They are all the more pertinent since so much of this match reflected an issue that arose in the 2023 World Cup, and is going to be a theme of the summer. Barcelona and Spain have a superior assembly line of talent. It can be witnessed in how many of these players illuminate the world champions. Five of the starting XI lifted the trophy in Australia, with Salma Paralluelo also coming off the bench. Bonmati displayed all of her talent as the best player in the world with that first goal on 26 minutes. As impressive as the aesthetic was the sheer audacity. To even try the shot from that angle was illustrative of her effervescent quality. Fifteen minutes later, there was a goal appropriately showcasing the entire Catalan-Spanish style, as Barcelona played their way through for Ewa Pajor to tap in after Caroline Graham cut the ball back. How many times have we seen Barcelona and general Spanish teams score exactly that type of goal over the years? From that, and with Barcelona so comfortable they could just enjoy themselves, Claudia Pina just decided to go for it. Mere moments after Pawor's goal, the forward drove a supreme arching long-range strike in off the post. That was a moment when it felt like this could get very bad for Chelsea. Niamh Charles ' error for Paralluelo's late goal was instead the worst it got. It was still hard to square with the reality that Sonia Bompastor 's team featured four English European champions of their own, but that is where there is a bigger issue. It is not just the development of talent. It is the context the talent plays in. You can bridge a technical gap with tactics. You can't if the opposition's very tactical ideology is superior. Barcelona displayed that defined ideology, one that most of their players have grown up with. The real key to this is how it amplifies the ability of their players, and the team as whole. Hence displays that look so thoroughly convincing. Chelsea, for their part, did display some typically creditable resilience. Things might have gone a little differently had Sjoeke Nusken scored an early chance. Chelsea also prevented that bad moment just before half-time becoming utterly humiliating. Catalina Coll was forced into at least three fine saves, and substitute Wieke Kaptein finally gave the crowd something to cheer about. By that point, the talk of comebacks had long gone. The real discussion should be how Chelsea and English clubs get to this level, and back into Champions League finals. An 8-2 aggregate scoreline didn't really tell the reality of the gap.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea to face Barcelona in Women's Champions League semis after Man City fightback
Barcelona's players celebrate their second goal scored by Spanish forward Salma Paralluelo (Manaure QUINTERO) Chelsea's women overturned a two-goal first leg deficit to beat Manchester City 3-0 and set up a Champions League semi-final meeting with holders Barcelona on Thursday. Earlier, Barca mauled Wolfsburg 6-1 in Catalonia to complete a 10-2 aggregate thrashing. In the final of four meetings between City and Chelsea in the past 12 days, the English champions wasted little time in gaining revenge for a rare defeat in last week's first leg. Advertisement The Blues had turned the tie around before half-time as Sandy Baltimore blasted into the top corner before Nathalie Bjorn headed in from a corner to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate. Lauren James then pounced on a sloppy City pass to tee up Mayra Ramirez for the winning goal. "After the first leg I knew we could do it. It's something to say and something to turn words into action. I'm so proud of my players," said Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor. Chelsea remain on course for a quadruple in Bompastor's first season in charge. They beat City 2-1 in the League Cup final earlier this month to begin the quartet of meetings, are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and have an eight-point lead at the top of the Women's Super League. Advertisement However, they face the most daunting challenge in women's football next month in trying to dethrone Barcelona. "In football when you are alive everything can be possible," added Bompastor. "We have all the quality to go all the way. It will be tough games against Barcelona." Chelsea's quest to win the Champions League for the first time has come undone against the Spanish champions in three of the past four seasons. Pere Romeu's side have gone on to win the tournament on all three occasions and set a record by reaching a seventh consecutive semi-final. After a shock first ever women's El Clasico defeat by Real Madrid on Sunday, Barca showed no mercy against the side they beat to win the 2023 final. Advertisement Salma Paralluelo's quickfire double built on Barca's 4-1 first leg lead before Esmee Brugts smashed home the third from outside the box. Substitute Claudia Pina continued the rout after the hour mark as she beat Anneke Borbe too easily at her near post. Lineth Beerensteyn pulled one back for the visitors after Barca stopper Cata Coll was lured out of her goal but could not clear the ball effectively. Pina scored a fine second with a free-kick which flew in off the post, with Mapi Leon following suit from even longer range to wrap up Barcelona's rout in stoppage time. Arsenal will face eight-time winners Lyon in the other semi-final for a place in the final in Lisbon on May 24. kca-rbs/dj/nr
The Guardian
27-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Barcelona crush Wolfsburg in Women's Champions League to make semi-finals
Defending champions Barcelona cruised to a 6-1 home win over Wolfsburg in the second leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final to book a semi-final place with a stunning 10-2 aggregate win. Barça were 3-0 up at the break following a Salma Paralluelo double and Esmee Brugts's fine strike. Substitute Clàudia Pina scored a fourth before Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn pulled a goal back for the visitors. Pina and defender Maria León completed the rout for Barcelona with two free kicks. The Spanish side will face Manchester City or Chelsea, who play later on Thursday, in the semi-finals in April. City lead 2-0 from the first leg. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion More to follow …
