Barcelona Women and Chelsea Women will trade tackles in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League semifinal tie on Sunday (April 20th). The game will be played at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
The hosts are coming into the game on the back of a 5-1 thrashing of Sevilla at the same venue in the Spanish Liga F. They were two goals up by the 34th minute courtesy of Ewa Pajor's brace, while Fatouma Kanta Cham halved the deficit in first-half injury time. Vicky Lopez, Alba Cano and Aitana Bonmati scored a goal each in the second half to complete the rout.
Chelsea, meanwhile, advanced with a 2-1 comeback victory over Liverpool in the English Women's FA Cup semifinal. They went behind to Olivia Smith's 21st-minute strike, but Erin Cuthbert drew the game level in first-half injury time. Agnes Beever-Jones scored the match-winner to help her side book a date with Manchester United in the final.
The Blues will shift their focus to the continent and have booked their spot at this stage with a 3-2 comeback aggregate win over Manchester City. Barcelona eliminated Wolfsburg 10-2 on aggregate to get to this stage.
Lyon or Arsenal await the winner of this tie in the final.
Barcelona are seeking a three-peat in the Women's Champions League and are the favorites to advance to the final.
This remains the holy grail for Chelsea, with a continental triumph the only missing piece of silverware in their gallery.
We are backing the hosts to claim a comfortable win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Barcelona Women 3-1 Chelsea Women
Tip 1 - Barcelona Women to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Barcelona to score over 1.5 goals