Barcelona Women vs Chelsea Women: Preview, prediction & lineups | OneFootball

Barcelona play host to the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final tie against Chelsea at Saturday lunchtime.

An ominous test awaits the Blues as they take on the holders who knocked them out of the competition at this stage last season. However, Emma Hayes' side were far more competitive over the two legs then, compared to the one-sided thrashing they were subjected to in the 2021 final.

Having conqured Europe twice in the last three seasons, Barcelona continue to dominate domestically and have dropped only two points in Liga F in 2023/24 as they canter to another title.

As for Chelsea, knocked out of the Women's FA Cup semi-finals by Manchester United last weekend, they are locked in a thrilling WSL title battle with Manchester City. However, Europe remains the last unfulfilled ambition for Hayes before she departs the club at the end of the season.

Here's 90min's preview of Saturday's UWCL semi-final first leg.

Barcelona vs Chelsea H2H Record (All Games)

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Barcelona team news

Keira Walsh could return to the starting lineup after being rested / Alex Caparros/GettyImages

Barcelona are carrying no injuries into the tie, with head coach Jonatan Giraldez stating at a press conference on Friday: "They are all available to play 90 minutes."

He is spolit for options in midfield with a pair of Ballon d'Or winners in Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, while England international Keira Walsh is hopeful of a start, and she could come into the side having appeared off the bench in the 5-1 win over Villarreal last weekend.

Barcelona predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-3-3): Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Engen, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Brugts, Caldentey.

Chelsea team news

Millie Bright is back after five months out / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Club captain Millie Bright is back in contention for Chelsea after recovering from a knee injury, having last played during the 2-2 group stage draw with Real Madrid. Whether she starts is another matter.

Lauren James is also fit to play following earlier doubts about her fitness. But Ann-Katrin Berger has completed a move to NJ/NY Gotham and Sam Kerr is a long-term absentee due to an ACL injury.

It was a heavily rotated side that beat Aston Villa in the WSL in midweek, with Hayes expected to revert to her strongest XI - that could mean as many as seven changes.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Barcelona

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Hampton; Perisset, Carter, Buchanan, Charles; Cuthbert, Leupolz; Kaneryd, James, Reiten; Ramirez.

Barcelona vs Chelsea score prediction

Chelsea rediscovered some stability with a win over Villa on Wednesday having lost in the Conti Cup final to Arsenal and FA Cup semi-finals to Manchester United in consecutive outings.

There's been a feeling of the Blues running out of gas towards the end of Hayes' tenure, and they face the ultimate test on Saturday against the world's best.

Yet Barcelona remain imperious, not hamstrung by a bruising domestic battle and have untold options to hurt whoever they face. They're almost unstoppable on home soil.