Barcelona defeats Chelsea 1-0 in first leg of Women’s Champions League semifinals

In the fourth minute, Hansen received Geyse’s pass, marched up the pitch, beat two Chelsea defenders and shot from outside the box to rattle the net.

Chelsea’s Norwegian midfielder Maren Mjelde (L) vies with Barcelona’s Norwegian forward Caroline Hansen during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals. | Photo Credit: AFP

An early goal by Caroline Graham Hansen gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of its Women’s Champions League semifinal on Saturday.

Graham Hansen put Barcelona ahead just four minutes into the match at Stamford Bridge when the Norway forward cut in from the right and drilled a long-range shot into the top corner.

The closest Chelsea went to equalizing was a shot by Guro Reiten that was blocked by Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze on the half-hour mark.

Substitute Marta Torrejón almost grabbed a second goal for the visitors when she headed off the post in the 82nd.

The second leg is on Thursday at Camp Nou. Barcelona routed Chelsea 4-0 in the 2021 final for the Spanish club’s only European title.

The other semifinal starts on Sunday when Arsenal is at Wolfsburg.