Holders Barcelona put themselves in the driving seat with a resounding 4-1 over Chelsea in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semifinal on Sunday, with substitute Clàudia Pina netting twice.
Alexia Putellas missed an early penalty for the hosts before Barca’s Polish striker Ewa Pajor broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, ghosting in behind the defence to latch onto a through ball from Putellas and slotting it in at the far post for her 36th goal in 39 games this season.
Coming up against the Catalans at the semifinal stage for the third season in a row, Chelsea were left floundering in their wake for much of the game at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
“I still believe in my team and my players, 100%,” Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor said. “It’ll be difficult, but the main goal is to score early in the return leg. In football everything is possible, so let’s try to win the game and, if we score early, maybe we can put Barcelona under pressure.”
They went two down in the 70th minute when Pina netted her first goal four minutes after coming off the bench for Caroline Graham Hansen.
“It’s a good result. It’s was a complete performance and we have a three goal lead,” Pina said after the game. “It’s a small advantage, but it’s not over.
