LONDON — Reigning champions Barcelona will head to a fourth straight UEFA Women’s Champions League final as they overcame a 1-0 deficit from their semifinal first leg to beat 10-woman Chelsea 2-0 at a sold-out Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí and Fridolina Rolfö saw the Blaugrana get the needed result as they look to defend their crown in Bilbao as they await the winner of the other semifinal between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.
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As for the Blues, Emma Hayes will depart the club without being able to win the one trophy that was left to her to win as she embarks on taking charge of the United States women’s national team.
Sophie Lawson and Emily Keogh were at the Bridge to break down what that result means for both these two sides.
Ugly win highlights Barcelona’s need for evolution
Barcelona’s recent history is one of all-encompassing dominance, of playing the Barca way and leaving teams chasing shadows. But, of course, that success has been rather more recent than many realise, and it was the product of years of development and finessing.
Rifling through Barcelona’s Champions League history, season by season, highlights that growth better than their domestic success. But those…
