Key events
Those teams: For Chelsea: Lauren James is back from injury, while Millie Bright is in the matchday squad for the first time since November after recovering from a knee injury. Guro Reiten is also on the bench. Melanie Leupolz, Erin Cuthbert, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Mayra Ramirez all come in, five changes since the midweek defeat of Aston Villa.
For Barca: Lucy Bronze is on the bench but Keira Walsh will play in midfield alongside Aitana Bonmati, the best player in the game.
At the start of March there was talk of a historic quadruple, Hayes having been part of the Arsenal setup that achieved the feat in 2007 as assistant manager to Vic Akers. Now, whisper it, a departure from club football after a trophyless season, with Barcelona firm favourites to reach a fifth final in six years and Manchester City level on points with the reigning Women’s Super League champions, is far from unlikely.
Sign up for our Moving The Goalposts email.
The teams
Barcelona: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo, Bonmati, Walsh, Guijarro, Hansen, Paralluelo, Caldentey. Subs: Panos, Jana Fernandez, Pina, Torrejon, Putellas, Bronze, Vilamala, Brugts, Dragoni, Lopez, Arias, Martina Fernandez.
Chelsea: Hampton, Lawrence, Carter, Buchanan, Charles, Kaneryd, Cuthbert, Nusken, Leupolz, Ramirez, James. Subs: Musovic, Bright, Ingle, Macario, Reiten, Kirby, Perisset, Beever-Jones, Cox.
Preamble
Emma Hayes’ victory lap will not end in a quadruple but the double is still on. That’s if her Chelsea team can beat the best club side in women’s football. A glance at Barcelona’s team sheet is a who’s who of world stars – and World Cup winners. There are memories, too, of the 2021 Women’s Champions League final when Barcelona won 4-0, and were 3-0 up in 20 minutes. Beating Barca now would one of the great coups of Hayes’ glittering career. The Champions League is the one she and Chelsea are missing. If not now, then when?
Join me for a 12.30 kick-off.
