BARCELONA, APRIL 20: Erin Cuthberts fine strike earned Emma Hayes Chelsea an impressive 1-0 win at holders Barcelona in the Womens Champions League semi-final first leg on Saturday.
Chelsea defended brilliantly at the Olympic Stadium to beat a Barcelona side aiming to win the trophy for the third time in four seasons.
Jonatan Giraldezs side, who hammered Chelsea in the 2021 final and shaded a tight battle in last seasons semis against the Blues, were left frustrated in their first home defeat in over five years.
Hayes is hoping to crown the end of her time with Chelsea before taking over the US womens national team, with her first Champions League triumph as a coach.
After defeats in the FA Cup and the League Cup final, Chelseas bid for a quadruple has crumbled in the last few weeks, while Barcelonas is alive but dented by Cuthberts fine goal.
Hayes gameplan worked to perfection as Chelsea reduced a usually dominant Barcelona to remarkably few chances while threatening occasionally on the counter-attack.
Having never beaten the Catalans before, the Blues set up with three centre-backs and plenty of grit.
They soaked up Barcelona pressure without letting the two-time winners work many dangerous openings.
Salma Paralluelo had a sight of goal but her shot was deflected over, while Ballon dOr winner Aitana Bonmati was kept under control.
Chelsea shocked the hosts by capitalising on the first real attacking move they managed to string together five minutes before half-time.
Sjoeke Nusken manoeuvered well in the box, turning and finding Cuthbert, who worked some space before arcing a shot beyond Cata Coll. —AFP
