Preview: Barcelona Women vs. Chelsea Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Chelsea Women will travel to Camp Nou on Thursday for the second leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona Women.

The Spanish champions have a slender advantage in the tie after claiming a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Match preview

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Barcelona picked up a narrow win in the first leg to take a step towards sealing their place in a third consecutive Champions League final.

Caroline Graham Hansen produced a superb strike in the fourth minute, curling the ball past Ann-Katrin Berger to score what proved to be the winning goal.

The result represented Barcelona's fifth consecutive victory in Europe and the result leaves them in pole position in the semi-final tie.

Home advantage could prove to be crucial for the Catalan giants, who have not suffered a Champions League home defeat since losing 1-0 to Lyon in March 2018.

Having won their four Champions League home games this season by a 23-1 scoreline, Barcelona will be confident of adding to their first-leg advantage and securing their place in the final.

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Chelsea know that they will have their work cut out if they are to reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons.

The Blues were thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona when they reached the final in the 2020-21 campaign, so they will be relieved to still be in the semi-final tie ahead of the second leg.

The English champions have already claimed a notable away victory in the knockout rounds, beating the reigning European champions Lyon 1-0 in France in the previous round.

However, Chelsea have tended to struggle on their travels in the last four, having lost all of their previous three away legs that have taken place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Despite drawing a blank at Stamford Bridge, the Blues will be optimistic about finding the net on Thursday, as they have not gone two competitive games without scoring since December 2021.

Team News

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Barcelona will be unable to call upon Lucy Bronze, who has undergone knee surgery after being forced off in the second half at Stamford Bridge.

Afte recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Alexia Putellas is set to make her long-awaited return to the matchday squad, with the 29-year-old expected to be included among the substitutes.

Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez could be tempted to select the same side that started on Saturday, which would see Geyse retain her place up front.

As for the visitors, they are still without the services of Millie Bright, Kadiesha Buchanan, Fran Kirby and Katerina Svitkova due to injury issues.

Pernille Harder returned from a lengthy layoff to make an appearance as a late substitute in the first leg, and she is expected to be utilised off the bench once again as Chelsea manage her comeback.

After being introduced at half time on Saturday, Lauren James could be brought into the lineup for Thursday's second leg.

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

Panos; Torrejon, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro; Hansen, Paralluelo, Geyse

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Cuthbert, Leupolz, Reiten; James, Charles, Kerr

We say: Barcelona Women 2-1 Chelsea Women (Barcelona Women to win 3-1 on aggregate)

Barcelona have gone five years without losing a home Champions League game, and we do not see that changing in the second leg.

We think that Chelsea will be able to trouble their hosts and get on the scoresheet, but we believe the Catalan giants will utilise their firepower to claim a narrow victory on the night.

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