In the end, it all proved too much for Chelsea.
Many would argue that the damage had already been done in Spain last weekend where, with the deficit at just one after 80 minutes, Sonia Bompastor’s side made the mistake of trying to seek another. As they broke forward, Barcelona sniffed blood and went for the kill, Irene Paredes and then Claudia Pina hitting two more against them.
Barcelona captain Alexia Putellas had to reign in her teammates’ celebrations at the full-time whistle. The job was not yet done, she argued. But for Chelsea, welcoming the back-to-back Champions League champions to west London with a three-goal deficit represented less of an uphill battle and more of an almighty, mountainous war.
A passerby wouldn’t have been able to tell walking along the bucolic streets near Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, though. The sun was shining and a sense of calm optimism followed the 25,000-plus Chelsea fans through the gates and into this historic stadium.
The sun was shining and a sense of calm optimism followed the 25,000-plus Chelsea fans through the gates and into this historic stadium.
But then, as many have found facing this relentless winning machine that is Barcelona women’s team – including Chelsea in their last two semi-final meetings – that hope can be quickly, painfully extinguished.
This time it was by none other than Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, whose 25th minute goal sucked the life out of this fixture and sent the back-to-back Champions League champions on their way to a fifth consecutive final.
For Chelsea, welcoming the back-to-back Champions League champions to west London with a three-goal deficit represented less of an uphill battle and more of a mountain-sized war
Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati’s 25th minute goal sucked the life out of this fixture
Barcelona will face Arsenal or Bompastor’s former side Lyon in the final in Lisbon next month
‘We are frustrated by the result, but also by the performance,’ said a deflated Bompastor after the game. ‘We knew we were going to have a tough challenge playing the best team in Europe.
‘The first 30 minutes of the game were good. The only difference between Barcelona and us were that we created some opportunities but we were not clinical.
‘If had have scored the first goal the game could have been different. The fans were just waiting for us to score that first goal to help us to turn things around.
‘And, as you could see, when they scored their first goal, it was too easy for them. Especially when you leave Bonmati with all this space to go and score, after that mentally we were not good enough to cope with the situation.
‘I think you can lose the game but I think we needed to show more pride coming into the game, especially when we were playing at home.
‘Probably one of the only positive things I can take from it is that I clearly know what we need to do to be a better team and be ready to compete against these teams (in the future).’
Chelsea had started smoothly, albeit without too much to concern the Liga F leaders, when Bonmati picked up the ball from deep in her own half and surged towards a gaping hole in the Blues’ back line.
Leaving a flailing Niamh Charles in her wake, the midfielder powered towards Hannah Hampton. Curiously, neither Sjoeke Nusken nor Millie Bright went towards the Spanish World Cup winner, and Bonmati preyed on the space before rifling her shot into the roof of Hampton’s net.
The mood around the Bridge was already sinking when, fifteen minutes later, Ewa Pajor untangled herself from Bright’s grasp and tapped in Caroline Graham Hansen’s pass from close range.
Seconds later Claudia Pina came back to haunt Chelsea again. Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area, the 23-year-old fired past Hampton’s outstretched glove and into the top-right corner. The score was seven-one on aggregate, and the Blues were dead and buried.
Bompastor wrung the changes at half-time, bringing on Aggie Beever-Jones for Mayra Ramirez after the Colombian struggled to impose herself in the first-half. Ashley Lawrence also came on for Naomi Girma, and Chelsea shored things up after the break.
The hosts came close through chances from Catarina Macario and Lucy Bronze, but Hampton also got busy, too, and Salma Paralluelo twisted the knife in the final minute of normal time for Barcelona’s fourth.
Wieke Kaptein’s 93rd minute consolation was met by raucous applause. A goal on the scoresheet was all these fans wanted to see at this point.
Barcelona will face Arsenal or Bompastor’s former side Lyon in the final next month – the winner of that game to be decided later today.
Chelsea meanwhile are still on course for a domestic treble, and the next few weeks will go some way to wipe away the disappointment of yet another season going by without success in this competition.
The League Cup is already in the bag, an FA Cup final date is already booked in for next month, and they could even win the league in three days’ time, were Arsenal to drop points at Aston Villa.
But when all is said and done, this team is full of winners, and they will know that they will have to come harder and faster next season if they are to finally get their hands on the one trophy that continues to evade them.
