Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona: Player ratings as Hansen stunner settles UWCL semi final first leg
A brilliant fourth-minute strike from Caroline Graham Hansen was enough to give Barcelona a first-leg lead in the semi final of the Women's Champions League against a gutsy Chelsea side.
Norway international Hansen cut inside from the wing to crack a long-range effort into the far corner. Barça controlled much of the game, though Guro Reiten had both a goal disallowed for offside and a shot cleared off the line by Lucy Bronze, who hobbled off through injury.
Chelsea must now overturn a deficit next week at Camp Nou against a side who sit at the top of Liga F with a goal difference of +100.
Memories of the 2021 final between the two sides which ended 4-0 to Barcelona with all four goals coming in the first half were quickly summoned as the visitors took the lead in the fourth minute.
Hansen was allowed to drift in from the right unopposed and drill in a wonderful effort from the edge of the box, leaving goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger with no chance.
Barça looked wonderfully composed in possession, their midfield players dropping into defence whenever Irene Paredes or Mapi Leon brought the ball out from the back. They were still tested by the pace in behind from Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten as Chelsea made some inroads in attack.
It was Reiten who looked to have equalised after being played through by Kerr only for an offside flag to go up, and the Norwegian was denied moments later having rounded Sandra Panos, only for Lucy Bronze to clear her goal-bound shot off the line.
The end to end action continued as Hansen breezed into the box and forced Berger into a sprawling save which halted play for the goalkeeper to receive some treatment.
The previously unflustered Barça side looked rushed towards the end of the first half, with some tweaks from Emma Hayes quietening the energetic Salma Paralluelo.
Lauren James replaced Jelena Cankovic at half time as Chelsea looked to ramp up the pressure in the second half, which started with a slight lull in chances at both end. Berger needed to bat away a dangerous cross and James got her first shot away soon after, but it lacked the power to trouble visiting goalie Panos.
Barça squeezed the life out of the game in the second half and almost doubled their lead when substitute Marta Torrejon headed against the woodwork with a header, leaving the 1-0 score in tact.
The results leaves Chelsea needed a victory at Camp Nou on Thursday to reach the Champions League final, with Barça well on track to make a third successive final.
Chelsea player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Ann-Katrin Berger - 7/10 - Took a couple of whacks throughout the first half. Some good and dominant keeping when Barça threw crosses into the box.
RB: Eve Perisset - 4/10 - Had Charles alongside her for some duels with Paralluelo, but lack of pace was shown on occasion.
CB: Maren Mjelde - 7/10 - Saved Chelsea's skin a couple of times, cutting out some dangerous passes and crosses.
CB: Magdalena Eriksson - 7/10 - Chelsea were a little slow out of the traps early on but looked sharped when Eriksson and Mjelde got more assertive.
LB: Jess Carter - 6/10 - Often on hand to clear the danger in defence. Gave the ball away a couple of times in dangerous positions.
CM: Erin Cuthbert - 7/10 - Put in a tremendous amount of defensive work in the face of some oppressive Barcelona possession.
CM: Melanie Leupolz - 5/10 - Launched a couple of dangerous long balls forward but didn't do much else.
CM: Guro Reiten - 7/10 - Got very high up the pitch. Unfortunate to see Bronze clear her goal-bound shot.
RW: Niamh Charles - 6/10 - Worked in tandem with Perisset and didn't get many attacking opportunities.
ST: Jelena Cankovic - 6/10 - Looked bright when drifting out wide and created some space for kerr and Reiten. Subbed at half time.
LW: Sam Kerr - 6/10 - Looked most dangerous when linking up with Carter but didn't get enough service.
Substitutes
Lauren James (46' for Cankovic) - 5/10
Sophie Ingle (68' for Cuthbert) - 6/10
Jessie Fleming (84' for Leupolz) - N/A
Pernille Harder (84' for Reiten) N/A - A long-awaited return from injury, having last played in November.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (84' for Perisset) - N/A
Manager
Emma Hayes - 5/10 - Chelsea did well to stay in the game for so long but face an extremely tall order to reach the final given Barcelona's impressive home record.
Read the latest Women's Champions League news here
feed
Barcelona player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Sandra Panos - 6/10 - Booked for some hilarious time-wasting late on. Not too many crucial saves to make.
RB: Lucy Bronze - 7/10 - Brilliant clearance off the line denied Reiten an equaliser. Had to hobble off midway through the second half.
CB: Irene Paredes - 7/10 - Brought the ball out from the back though sometimes look worried by Kerr and Reiten running in behind.
CB: Mapi Leon - 7/10 - Rarely gave the ball away and was dogged at the back, to the point of picking up a booking.
LB: Fridolina Rolfo - 7/10 - Came close with a rocket towards full-time. Had some fun battles with Eriksson.
CM: Aitana Bonmati - 9/10 - Popped the ball around with ease all game. Delightful in central midfield.
CM: Keira Walsh - 8/10 - Gave great balance to Barça's midfield, keeping possession safe in the face of Chelsea's pressing.
CM: Patricia Guijarro - 7/10 - Pulled out some robust challenges and frequently mopped up loose ball.
RW: Caroline Graham Hansen - 9/10 - Jinked in from the right and struck in brilliantly to open the scoring. So quick on the break, always looking dangerous with the ball.
ST: Geyse - 7/10 - A couple of really nice dribbles and harassed Chelsea's defenders without the ball. Brought off a little prematurely.
LW: Salma Paralluelo - 8/10 - Drifted all over the frontline, causing real problems for Chelsea's defence.
Substitutes
Mariona Caldentey (60' for Geyse) - 6/10
Marta Torrejon (67' for Bronze) - 7/10
Asisat Oshoala (84' for Hansen) - N/A
Ingrid Syrstad Engen (84' for Walsh) - N/A
Ana Maria Crnogorcevic (85' for Paralluelo) - N/A
Manager
Jonatan Giraldez - 7/10 - Giraldez's kept control of the game and didn't allow Chelsea too many opportunities, though the visitors did look shaky on occasion.