LONDON — Rematches are on faucet within the Women’s Champions League semifinals this weekend.
Chelsea was embarrassed by Barcelona within the 2021 closing, dropping 4-0 after a first-half barrage by the Catalan membership. Emma Hayes’ group will attempt to begin higher when Barcelona visits Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon for the primary leg.
Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas traveled with Barcelona however shouldn’t be within the squad. The midfielder has returned to group coaching after tearing her ACL final July.
Injury-hit Arsenal performs at Wolfsburg on Sunday of their first-leg matchup a yr after being eradicated by the German membership within the quarterfinals. Wolfsburg additionally knocked out Arsenal within the semifinals a decade in the past en path to its first title.
Chelsea is the one one of many remaining 4 that has not received the European competitors. Wolfsburg is a two-time champion (2013, 2014), Barcelona has one title, and Arsenal received in 2007 when it was referred to as the Women’s Cup.
The excellent news for the semifinalists is that eight-time champion Lyon is out.
PHOTOS: Chelsea hosts Barcelona, Arsenal at Wolfsburg in Women’s CL
The closing is on June 3 in Eindhoven.
CHELSEA vs. BARCELONA
Chelsea ought to really feel assured after defeating titleholder Lyon, although it took a late penalty and in the end a shootout to get it finished. Plus, the London membership has misplaced simply one in every of its previous 14 dwelling video games within the Champions League.
Australia striker Sam Kerr leads Chelsea with 5 objectives within the competitors, and midfielder Pernille Harder could possibly be again after a protracted layoff from hamstring surgical procedure.
The hosts must determine how you can decelerate a Barcelona group that has scored 35 objectives in eight video games – tops within the Champions League. The different three semifinalists are subsequent finest having every scored 21.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati has netted a team-high 5 objectives and supplied six assists in these eight video games.
In the Spanish league, Barcelona hasn’t misplaced since June 2021.
Barcelona reached the Champions League closing final yr in a bid for consecutive titles however misplaced to Lyon 3-1.
More than 25,000 tickets have been bought for Saturday’s sport. The second leg is Thursday at Camp Nou.
WOLFSBURG vs. ARSENAL
Arsenal heads to Wolfsburg Arena after dropping one more star participant to a knee damage.
The London membership confirmed Friday that defender Leah Williamson wants surgical procedure after tearing her ACL. Forwards Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead had season-ending ACL accidents in December and November, respectively. Veteran midfielder Kim Little (hamstring) was additionally dominated out for the season this week.
Arsenal’s solely different earlier closing was 2007 when it received the then-Women’s Cup.
Wolfsburg is attempting to get to its sixth closing. It received in back-to-back years (2013, ‘14) and was runner-up to Lyon in 2016, ’18 and ‘20.
The German group has damage considerations, too, with midfielder Alexandra Popp and defender Marina Hegering uncertain for Sunday.
Wolfsburg ahead Ewa Pajor is the competitors’s main scorer with seven.
In the quarterfinals final yr, the groups drew 1-1 in London earlier than Wolfsburg received 2-0 within the second leg with Jill Roord netting the decisive purpose in opposition to her former group.
The second leg is on May 1 at Emirates Stadium.
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