Barca will take on PSG or Lyon in the final after defeating the Blues in controversial fashion at Stamford Bridge
Emma Hayes will not end her Chelsea tenure with a Champions League title, and she has every reason to feel aggrieved about the way that journey ended, as the officials took centre stage in a controversial 2-0 defeat for her Blues at the hands of Barcelona on Saturday.
The reigning European champions had a 1-0 deficit to overturn from an historic loss in Catalunya last week and Aitana Bonmati levelled the tie on aggregate with only 25 minutes played, some individual brilliance creating the chance to strike before a deflection took her effort beyond Hannah Hampton. Barca seemed to smell blood at that point, piling on the pressure and enjoying a really good spell, but it would take until the latter stages for them to get that second goal.
That came after some chances for Chelsea, Catarina Macario testing Cata Coll, Sjoeke Nusken hitting the post and Melanie Leupolz inexplicably hitting the bar, albeit the latter from an opening that would have been pulled back for offside by VAR.
But it also came after the officials took centre stage, first by dismissing Kadeisha Buchanan just before the hour. The Canada star picked up a deserved booking for a foul on Salma Paralluelo, however a second caution that followed four minutes later was incredibly harsh. It was dubious as a free-kick, never mind a card, but the referee's mind was made up and Buchanan had to walk.
Barca struggled to really make that advantage count in truth, Chelsea doing well to restrict them despite the numerical disadvantage, until Bonmati burst into the box and went down under challenge from Ashley Lawrence. The contact wasn't huge but the referee had already pointed to the spot and, with that, it was unlikely that VAR would overturn the decision. Fridolina Rolfo wasn't going to pass up the opportunity and sent Hampton the wrong way from the spot to put her team ahead on aggregate.
Hayes went for it after that goal. Aggie Beever-Jones and Fran Kirby came on, centre-back Millie Bright made her return to action as a centre-forward and Erin Cuthbert was single-handedly holding down the midfield as the forwards bombed on. Yet, chances were hard to come by and, despite some set-piece opportunities, Chelsea didn't come close to a goal that would've kept the game alive.
Instead, it is Jonatan Giraldez who has the chance to go out on a high in the Champions League final next month, not Hayes. Barca will go to Bilbao looking to defend their European title for the first time, with an historic quadruple possibly to play for when they do so. Chelsea, on the other hand, now only have one piece of silverware left to play fr, and they'll give their all to ensure they do not let Hayes end her tenure with a trophy-less campaign.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stamford Bridge…
Getty ImagesLOSER: The officials
It's hard to start anywhere else but with the officiating in this game. The tie was set up perfectly for a spectacle of a second half, with two top teams going toe-to-toe for a spot in the Champions League final. But then a ridiculous red card changed everything before a dubious penalty decided affairs.
It was harsh to give a free-kick against Buchanan for her tackle on Guijarro, never mind a second yellow card. This was a really well-contested game, no real cynical play and not even a foul in the first half. That the referee felt it necessary to brandish a second yellow to Buchanan in the space of four minutes was incredible.
The penalty was one of those that falls into the category of being harsh, as because the referee gave it, VAR was probably not going to overturn it. But Lawrence didn't make much contact on Bonmati and for this tie to be decided by that moment felt disappointing.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWINNER: Aitana Bonmati
We've talked a lot about Caroline Graham Hansen's great form in recent weeks, with her surely in line for a first-ever Ballon d'Or nomination later this year as one of the front-runners for the award. But Saturday was a reminder of why Bonmati is right up there competing for that accolade again, too, after winning it in 2023.
The midfielder's goal took a deflection, yes, but it was wonderful work before that to create the opportunity to strike, and she caused Chelsea a real problem when she burst into the box in the second half to win the decisive penalty. Turning up on this occasion is a boost to Bonmati's claim for a second Ballon d'Or, but what will be more important to her is that it gives her and Barca another chance of winning the Champions League, too.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Emma Hayes
Hayes has had an incredible tenure at Chelsea. In 12 years, she has transformed this team, which had never won a major honour, into the dominant side in English women's football, winning every domestic trophy multiple times over. But the Champions League was the one that her players really wanted to deliver for her, for themselves, for a club that has come so close on several times but always fallen short.
They gave themselves an incredible chance at achieving that feat with an historic win in Catalunya last week, but it was all taken away by some shock decisions. Hayes has every right to feel robbed of a genuine opportunity to try and beat Barca on equal terms and it is a shame that her final game in this competition, her final game at Stamford Bridge, ended in this manner.
Getty ImagesWINNER: Jonatan Giraldez
In the other dugout, Giraldez is also enjoying something of a 'last dance', though not quite of Hayes' magnitude given his shorter tenure as Barca boss. The coach will depart at the end of the season, also to move to the United States to take charge of the Washington Spirit in the NWSL. He's delivered incredible success in his time in Catalunya, winning seven trophies, and he has the chance to go out on a real high by guiding Barca to a defence of their European title for the first time.
It could be part of something even bigger, too, because the Catalans are still fighting on three fronts after winning the Super Cup in January. They are champions-elect in the league and also in the cup final next month. Giraldez, therefore, could deliver the team's first ever quadruple.
