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

On Saturday, Chelsea Women will welcome Barcelona Women to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final.

This will be the home side's fourth semi-final appearance, while the Spanish champions are featuring at this stage of the competition for the fifth time.

Match preview

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Chelsea secured their passage through to the last four in dramatic fashion, as Maren Mjelde scored a 128th-minute spot kick to send their quarter-final tie with Lyon to a penalty shootout, which the Blues won by a 4-3 scoreline.

After knocking out the reigning European champions in the last round, the West London club have earned themselves a semi-final date with Barcelona - a team they have not faced since being thrashed 4-0 by the Catalan side in the 2020-21 final.

That defeat ensured that Chelsea's wait for their first Women's Champions League trophy continued, but they will be hoping that 2023 can be the year when they become European champions.

Emma Hayes's side are also in the hunt for a treble after they booked their place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 away victory over Aston Villa on Sunday thanks to a second-half strike from Sam Kerr.

With Chelsea looking to head to Camp Nou will a positive result, they may take inspiration from the fact that their previous three home legs in the Champions League semi-finals have yielded two wins and a draw.

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After winning the competition in 2021, and finishing as runners-up last season, Barcelona are looking to reach the Champions League final for a third consecutive campaign.

In contrast to Chelsea, Barcelona made light work of their quarter-final tie with Roma, cruising to a 5-1 victory in the home leg after playing out a 1-1 draw in Italy.

The Catalans will now face a side from outside Germany or France for the first time in a European semi-final, and they will head to Stamford Bridge in confident mood after winning their last three competitive games against English teams.

Their most recent victory took place against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, as Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 home win thanks to an Aitana Bonmati brace as well as strikes from Vicky Lopez and Caroline Graham Hansen.

Having kept eight consecutive away clean sheets in all competitions, the visitors will be confident that they can head back to Barcelona with at least a draw.

Team News

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Chelsea are still unable to call upon defenders Kadiesha Buchanan and Millie Bright, while Fran Kirby is also ruled out for the hosts.

Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger did not feature in Sunday's matchday squad, but she will be handed the gloves for the first leg if she is passed fit.

After recovering from a hamstring injury which has kept her sidelined since November, Pernille Harder was an unused substitute for the FA Cup victory, and she is only expected to be fit enough for a place among the substitutes on Sunday.

As for the visitors, long-term absentee Alexia Putellas is nearing a return to fitness, but she will not be available for the first leg.

Claudia Pina and Asisat Oshoala have been struggling with injury issues, but the pair have been included in the travelling party, and they may be fit enough to feature on the bench.

After being left on the bench for Saturday's win over Atletico, Lucy Bronze and Salma Paralluelo are expected to be brought into the starting lineup.

Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:

Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Carter; Cuthert, Leupolz, Ingle; James, Reiten, Kerr

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

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

We say: Chelsea Women 1-1 Barcelona Women

Chelsea have not lost a competitive home game since March 2022, while Barcelona have only suffered one competitive defeat all season.

With both teams proving tough to beat, we think a cagey encounter will produce a draw, which would leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.