A stunning early strike from Norway star Caroline Graham Hansen gave Barcelona a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final tie on Saturday.
Hansen cut in from the right before arrowing a left-foot strike beyond the reach of Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger in the fourth minute in west London, and Barcelona then held on for a result that leaves them in a strong position going into the return next Thursday.
Barcelona will have a huge crowd behind them in the second leg at the Camp Nou as they aim to reach a third consecutive Champions League final, after beating Chelsea in 2021 and losing to Lyon last year.
The winners will advance to the final in the Dutch city of Eindhoven on June 3 against either Wolfsburg or Arsenal, who clash in the first leg of their last-four tie in Germany on Sunday.
Chelsea had knocked out Lyon in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals but they were second-best here in front of a crowd of over 27,000 and will need a special performance in Catalonia to turn the tie around.
