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Player ratings as Barca reach Women's Champions League final

Barcelona overcame a 1-0 first leg deficit to reach the Women's Champions League final at Chelsea's expense.

A club record crowd watched as Emma Hayes' final game at Stamford Bridge ended in heartbreaking defeat, with ten Blues players falling to the champions.

Barca will look to retain their title against Paris Saint-Germain or Olympique Lyonnais in next month's final in Bilbao.

How the game happened

Hannah Hampton was brought in for her first goal of the evening when Chelsea failed to deal with a Barcelona corner and Caroline Graham Hansen was able to volley from inside the box, with the England keeper getting down to deny her at close range.

Halfway through the first half, Barcelona equalized. Patri Guijarro passed to Aitana Bonmati, who took a pass from Niamh Charles and picked out the bottom corner with a deflection off the legs of Kadeisha Buchanan.

Barcelona almost took the lead when Bonmati's back-heel found Graham Hansen running down the wing, and Erin Cuthbert had to be alert to stop the ball reaching Salma Paralluelo who was waiting to tap home.

The hosts should have found the net themselves when Lauren James' low cross rolled into the path of Melanie Leupolz, whose effort from six yards went off the top of the bar. Although the offside flag was raised, replays suggested that James may have been onside when Catarina Macario was selected.

Cata Coll produced a good save to keep out Macario's half volley moments later as Chelsea looked to retake the lead.

Another chance for Chelsea came when Irene Paredes' back-pass was mishandled and blocked by Sjoeke Nusken, but her pull-back deflected off James and Barca escaped with one.

After the break, Nusken hit the post after shaking Chelsea. James pirouet passed through the middle of the field and changed the game for Ashley Lawrence, and his cross was met by Nusken, for his effort to go out on the right.

Just as Chelsea looked to be ramping up the pressure again, they were reduced to ten men after Buchanan received his second booking for a challenge at the foot of Guijarro where he appeared to take the ball first. As this was a second yellow card and not a straight red, the decision could not be reviewed by VAR.

Salma Paralluelo scored shortly after Buchanan was sent off and Ona Batlle put Hampton out, while Johanna Rytting Kaneryd tested Coll at the other end.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, Barcelona were awarded a penalty. Bonmati was hit by Jess Carter on Lawrence's legs and fell to the ground, and the on-field decision was allowed to stand following a lengthy VAR check. Fridolina Rolfo stepped up and slotted home to put Barca ahead on aggregate.

Chelsea tried to rally and call for a goal to send the tie into extra time but their efforts were in vain and Barcelona held on.

Hannah Hampton

Hampton kept Chelsea in the tie / Naomi Baker/ GettyImages

GK: Hannah Hampton – 7/10 – He made some decent saves and helped relieve the pressure with his impressive kicking skills.

CB: Jess Carter – 6/10 – For the most part he defended well and confidently, but it was his simple push on Bonmati that led to the world's best player colliding with Lawrence and earning a penalty.

CB: Kadeisha Buchanan – 4/10 – Unfortunately that deflection led to the Barcelona player and he probably shouldn't have received a second booking for his challenge on Guijarro. Still, both acts changed the game.

CB: Niamh Charles – 5/10 – Couldn't cope with the trickery and sharpness of Barcelona's midfield and forwards.

RM: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd – 6/10 – He ran up and down the right flank with his steadying energy that annoyed Barcelona.

CM: Erin Cuthbert – 6/10 – Another Chelsea player who never stopped running fought for every inch. Couldn't match his goalscoring heroics in the first leg.

CM: Melanie Leupolz – 5/10 – He was considered a spin in the midfield battle but you couldn't fault his commitment or his attitude.

CM: Sjoeke Nusken – 6/10 – They moved into the back three after a red card for Buchanan who spent a lot of time getting beaten up in the Barcelona box.

LM: Ashley Lawrence – 6/10 – He troubled the visitors with his ghost runs down the left and excellent deliveries from crosses.

CF: Lauren James – 6/10 – He slowed down the play by coming into midfield and looking to beat Barcelona's defenders one by one.

CF: Catarina Macario – 5/10 – Couldn't get involved in the game enough even when Chelsea were on top. Instead, James became the center.

What you are holding

SUB: Guro Reiten (63' for Macario) – 6/10

SUB: Aggie Beever-Jones (76' for Leupolz) – 6/10

SUB: Millie Bright (84' for Rytting Kaneryd) – 5/10

SUB: Fran Kirby (84' for James) – 5/10

SUB: Eve Perisset (84' for Lawrence) – 5/10

Inactive players: Zecira Musovic (GK), Sophie Ingle, Maren Mjelde, Jelena Cankovic, Nathalie Bjorn

The manager

Emma Hayes – 6/10 – Chelsea played admirably and were forced to make some decisions but in the end lacked that killer pace against Barcelona.

FBL-EUR-C1-WOMEN-CHELSEA-BARCELONAFBL-EUR-C1-WOMEN-CHELSEA-BARCELONA

Bonmati and Rolfo scored the goals for Barcelona / ADRIAN DENNIS/GettyImages

GK: Cata Coll – 7/10 – Like Hampton he did himself justice with a string of good saves. It also happened when Chelsea tried to drop crosses and corners on his head.

RB: Lucy Bronze – 7/10 – It delivered with a much-needed feel and fulfilled that mission. Barcelona was very calm in his presence.

CB: Irene Paredes – 6/10 – Fortunately the back-pass to Coll was not punished by Chelsea. Other than that he endured a quiet game.

CB: Ingrid Engen – 6/10 – He was well placed at fullback and was not troubled in dangerous areas by Chelsea's attackers.

LB: Ona Batlle – 6/10 – He came in on his natural right foot in attack and helped keep Barcelona from going the other way.

CM: Keira Walsh – 7/10 – He sat at the foot of the pitch telling the tempo that Chelsea tried hard to slow it down.

CM: Patri Guijarro – 8/10 – He came up with the help that started Barcelona's comeback. He brought that extra flair that his team missed in the first leg.

CM: Aitana Bonmati – 8/10 – You can take away the goal and the penalty win and see that Bonmati was the best player on the pitch. Those contributions appeared to win bonuses.

RW: Caroline Graham Hansen – 7/10 – He showed flashes of his brilliance even though he didn't trouble Chelsea for long.

CF: Salma Paraluelo – 6/10 – He didn't hold the ball well against Chelsea's three players, although he had a lot of luck running in behind even if he didn't score himself.

LW: Fridolina Rolfo – 7/10 – Like Graham Hansen he was made to work for a surgical position in the wing. Converted a crucial penalty to send Barcelona to the final.

What you are holding

SUB: Mariona Caldeney (67' for Batlle) – 6/10

SUB: Claudia Pina (86' by Graham Hansen) – 6/10

SUB: Alexia Putellas (90' for Bonmati) – N/A

Subs used: Sandra Panos (GK), Gemma Font (GK), Jana Fernandez, Marta Torrejon, Bruna Vilamala, Esmee Brugts, Vicky Lopez, Martina Fernandez

The manager

Jonatan Giraldez – 7/10 – Barcelona were not at their best but they got the job done and will have a chance to defend their title in Bilbao.

Best player – Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

Aitana BonmatiAitana Bonmati

Bonmati was so beautiful / Catherine Ivill – AMA/GettyImages


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