Barcelona present gulf in high quality once more as surprised Chelsea hope for miracle | Girls’s Champions League

As the ultimate whistle blew on the Estadi Johan Cruyff, the frustration on the faces of the Chelsea gamers shone by way of. Lucy Bronze chucked her headband on to the ground in anger; Erin Cuthbert shared pissed off phrases with the referee; the remaining in the meantime simply stood on the pitch wanting surprised with the cacophony of noise from jubilant Barcelona followers rubbing salt within the freshest of wounds.

This was not how the script was meant to go. Defeat by the hands of Barcelona – with such a gulf in high quality on the sector – was meant to be a factor of years passed by; a distant reminiscence buried within the historical past books of that painful last of 2021. For Chelsea have been constructing a squad with the clear intention of lifting the coveted Champions League trophy themselves. Massive cash has been spent on coveted belongings – the acquisition of Mayra Ramírez and Naomi Girma each breaking switch data; Bronze and Keira Walsh introduced in from the Spanish champions themselves – and the arrival of Sonia Bompastor to switch Emma Hayes on the helm, a person who has gained this competitors twice as a participant and as soon as as a supervisor.

Chelsea’s type at house has maybe lured individuals right into a false sense of safety. Unbeaten domestically, Bompastor’s staff closing within the Girls’s Tremendous League title, having overcome each impediment that has stood of their approach.

Possibly it must be of little shock that there are maybe just a few rising pains hiding beneath the floor; ones that have been anticipated within the autumn after the transition from the decade-long Hayes regime.

On this sunny Sunday night in Barcelona, nevertheless, the gulf in high quality on the pitch was clear to see. The hosts oozed magnificence and management, their expertise shining by way of. Even when they weren’t utterly at their fluid greatest, they picked off Chelsea, sliced by way of their press and supplied the type of medical ending that was lacking on the different finish of the pitch.

It was an additionally an illustration of how a staff can add items to the puzzle that actually make the standard increased. With the addition of Ewa Pajor to their ranks final summer time, Barcelona have lastly discovered themselves a real quantity 9, a ahead to steer the road and permit the gamers round her to flourish.

The Poland worldwide’s numbers are nearly ridiculous – her opener on this event was her thirty fourth strike in 35 appearances for the Blaugrana. The 28-year-old is a seasoned striker with velocity, a tireless work fee and instinctive end that not many others in world soccer possess. Her arrival has allowed Salma Paralluelo to remain out on the flank the place she will thrive, whereas she has rekindled her partnership with Norway winger Caroline Graham Hansen from their Wolfsburg days.

A saved Alexia Putellas penalty did little to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm within the first half as they suffocated a disjointed Chelsea. The guests appeared, maybe slightly naively, to be caught in two minds about whether or not to take a seat again and stay compact or to attempt to take the sport to their opponents. The outcome was the areas that opened up within the midfield and down the flanks that Pere Romeu’s facet picked aside with aplomb.

Pajor’s opener was a direct instance of this indecision and lack of ability to adapt to Barcelona’s power. An extended ball ahead was initially handled however when Paralluelo beat Bronze within the second section, the hosts noticed their alternative. An ideal through-ball from Putellas cut up the defenders permitting Pajor to burst by way of and present the type of medical ending that she has produced all season.

The hosts’ second got here with 20 minutes to play after Chelsea had come out a lot improved after the break. This, in distinction, was an illustration of the flexibility of their attacking play; a quintessential Barcelona aim. It was a superbly constructed staff transfer that swept from again to entrance and left to proper earlier than Clàudia Pina, on the sector for simply three minutes, turned the ball into the again of the web. She added her second in damage time as she took her tally to 9 within the Champions League this season. The Spaniard is the highest scorer within the competitors at the moment and it was simply one other signal of how a lot energy in depth they possess.

It was Chelsea’s first encounter with this new-look Barcelona facet and this 90 minutes will show to be an enormous studying course of for them. Bompastor’s facet are recognized for his or her robust mentality and they’re going to nonetheless consider that they will carry out a miracle at Stamford Bridge subsequent week. Nonetheless, this event was a robust reminder that there’s nonetheless a lot work to be achieved if they’re to get nearer to the one event left for them to overcome; the one which has proved to be probably the most elusive one but.