Chelsea vs Barcelona Women's Champions League preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, starting line-ups

Chelsea and Barcelona meet in their UEFA Women's Champions League semi-final second leg on Saturday 27 April at Stamford Bridge.

What do you need to know?

Erin Cuthbert's first-half goal proved enough for Chelsea to gain a memorable 1-0 away victory last Saturday. Barcelona had not lost a competitive home match since 2019, and had not failed to score in a home Champions League game in more than eight years, but were restricted by Chelsea to just a single shot on target.

As for the Blues, they added Barcelona to a list of teams they have beaten away in the last two years that already included Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain, not to mention their 3-0 first-leg quarter-final victory at Ajax in March. For today's game, Stamford Bridge is a sell-out for the first time in the history of the Chelsea women's team.

However, they have been vulnerable at Stamford Bridge; after winning 1-0 at Lyon in the quarter-finals last season, Chelsea ended up needing an added time in extra-time equaliser and shoot-out success to go through at home, and a few weeks later they lost 1-0 to Barcelona in London after Caroline Graham Hansen made the difference in their semi-final opener.

The return ended 1-1 (the only game Barcelona did not win in the 24-game unbeaten home European run that ended against Chelsea) as the Blaugrana went on to claim their second title in three seasons, beating Wolfsburg 3-2 from 2-0 down at half-time, two years on from defeating the Blues 4-0 in Gothenburg. But now Barcelona need to overturn a first-leg deficit to advance, something they have only managed once before, in the 2018/19 round of 32, when they lost 3-1 at BIIK-Kazygurt but won 3-0 at home on their way to a debut final.

Defender Mapi León remains sidelined for Barcelona, while Chelsea are missing long-term absentees Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Aniek Nouwen. However, Maren Mjelde, Nathalie Björn and Millie Bright are all potentially available for the home side after spells out injured.

Form guide

Chelsea
Last six games: WWLLDW
Last match: Barcelona 0-1 Chelsea, 20/04, Champions League semi-final first leg
Where they stand: 2nd in English Women's Super League

Barcelona
Last six games: WLWWWW
Last match: Levante Las Planas 2-4 Barcelona, 24/04, league
Where they stand: 1st in Spanish Women's Primera División, Copa de la Reina final

Starting line-ups

Chelsea: Hampton; Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Rytting Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Leupolz; Nüsken, Lawrence; James, Macario

Barcelona: Cata Coll; Ona Batlle, Paredes, Engen; Bronze, Bonmatí, Walsh, Guijarro, Rolfö; Graham Hansen, Paralluelo

View from the camps

Emma Hayes, Chelsea manager: "This is a game we want to be in; we are looking forward to it. Our team has huge experience of being in these positions and we will attack the game the same way as we do every week: it’s just another game for us.

"[Barcelona] are the best team in the world, I’ve said it millions of time. They know how to be in this position, no matter what they throw at us whether it’s bringing the false nine lower, whether it’s overloading us to the right-hand side, whether it’s accessing the pivot, whether it’s drawing us out of position, Barcelona can hurt you in so many different ways that for us as a team we have to be so, so mindful that you cannot switch off for one single second ... We know we have to be perfect to be able to progress."

Jonatan Giráldez, Barcelona coach: "The first leg was very close, there were few chances. We have to create more. [Chelsea] played a good game defensively.

"Against Chelsea the games have always been [ons where Barcelona were allowed to have possession], except when they had the need to attack us. We usually have more possession than our opponents, and it's about creating more chances. I don't think it will be a similar match to last year. Each game is managed differently. But Barça will have every intention of going for it."

Niamh Charles, Chelsea defender: “We are all really excited for it. The amount of tickets sold at Stamford Bridge: it’s the Champions League, it’s really exciting and I can’t wait.

"Across the pitch, I think they are one of the best teams in the world, they’ve got some of the best players in the world as well ... It’s about being switched on for every single second."

Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona midfielder: "It is a different challenge, but the match is one that motivates us. We have been able to overcome more difficult moments, like in the Eindhoven final [against Wolfsburg in 2023 when Barcelona trailed 2-0 at the break but won 3-2]. We turned that around in 45 minutes, so we can also do that in 90.

"I always say that you learn from defeats. You can reflect and learn from what you haven't done well. We are not used to losing, but we have full confidence in what we have done during the week."

Where is the 2024 UEFA Women's Champions League final being played?

San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao will stage the 2024 Women's Champions League final on Saturday 25 May, at 18:00 CET.

The 50,000-plus capacity home of Bilbao's Athletic Club was built on the site of the old San Mamés, replacing the 100-year-old arena of the same name in 2013. Athletic Club's women's team have played several games in the new stadium, attracting 48,121 fans for a 2019 cup tie against Atlético de Madrid, at the time a Spanish record.