Erin Cuthbert’s second-half brace helped Chelsea take control of Group D in the Champions League with a 3-1 win at Hacken.
The two teams had played out a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last week, which left the Swedish outfit top after three matches, but Emma Hayes’ side were able to finish 2023 with a crucial victory.
Sam Kerr broke the deadlock with her ninth goal of the campaign and, while Clarissa Larisey scored for Hacken to ensure it was 1-1 at half-time, Cuthbert netted twice in the space of 12 minutes after the break.
It ensured the Women’s Super League champions moved into top spot of the group after four matches and hold a one-point advantage over Hacken while Real Madrid, who they will host on January 24, are no longer able to qualify for the knockout stage following a 1-0 loss to third-placed Paris.
Hayes had warned her players there were no excuses despite this being their fourth match in 10 days but they nearly conceded early on at Bravida Arena.
Only four minutes were on the clock when Anna Anvegard hit the crossbar after Larisey’s cross, but Chelsea regrouped and a Lauren James curled effort signalled their intentions.
While Hacken goalkeeper Jennifer Falk was equal to James’ 20-yard strike, she had no answer to the prolific Kerr minutes later.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was the architect of the opener after she outmuscled Elma Junttila-Nelhage on the right before she cut back for Kerr, who fired into the roof of the net from close range in the 14th-minute.
It was a much-needed opener for the WSL champions, but they were caught out with 26 minutes on the clock by a slick counter-attack.
Jusu Bah showed great speed out wide and crossed in from the left where Larisey powered home a header.
Chelsea could have retaken the lead before half-time, but Falk pushed wide a firm strike by Sophie Ingle.
It was a different story after the break with Anvegard firing against the woodwork again for the hosts after linking up with Larisey, which proved a crucial moment in the group fixture.
Minutes later and Hayes’ team were back in front when Rytting Kaneryd’s cross was cleared to Ingle, who showed her composure to pick out Cuthbert and the Scotland international rifled into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 after 52 minutes.
It was Cuthbert’s first goal in this season’s Champions League but she doubled her tally again with 64 minutes played.
Kerr’s smart pass sent Cuthbert away and after she fooled Filippa Curmark with a fake shot, the midfielder’s low effort was too powerful for Falk.
Hacken pushed for a response and substitute Molly Johansson found the net in stoppage-time, but it was ruled out for offside and Chelsea earned a crucial three points.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes believes her side need to use their Women’s Champions League experience to get a result in their Group D clash at BK Hacken.
The Blues will go to the top of the group if they can beat the Swedish team on Wednesday night.
They were held to a goalless draw by the same opposition at Stamford Bridge last week but will have to face a lively atmosphere in the reverse fixture.
“Every game is a must-win game for us,” Hayes said on the club’s official website. “That is our mentality. We were disappointed with our performance last week. We worked on that, trained really well, played well at the weekend. This place will be rocking tomorrow night. This is going to be a difficult place to play.
“We are playing an opponent who are very confident in what they’re doing. They’ve had an amazing year, especially in the Champions League, and we have to deal with all of those challenges. But we have to be ready to perform.
“We’re experienced in Europe. We understand it’s a different surface, a little bit colder than London, a different type of opponent.
“I think it’ll be a much different game than Stamford Bridge, particularly because of the crowd. We have experience and it’s important for us to use it.
“The message I’ll give to the players is we have been in this competition long enough, we’ve gone deep in this competition and while it hasn’t been perfect in the group stages, we have a dressing room that is capable of winning.”
Chelsea do have some injury problems for the game in Scandinavia.
“Melanie (Leupolz) hasn’t recovered, she’s had a setback,” explained the Chelsea manager. “She tried to come in on Monday, but she is not well.
“Maren (Mjelde) has made it back with the squad so she is part of that. Kadeisha (Buchanan) had an issue with a back spasm at the weekend and she’s back in the squad.
“Jelena (Cankovic) is still out with her calf and obviously, the long-term one is Catarina (Macario). Ann-Katrin (Berger) is back; she had a slight ankle knock.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright is likely to miss her side’s Women’s Champions League meeting with Paris FC at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Blues manager Emma Hayes confirmed Bright has a knee problem and, although it is not a serious issue, said the 30-year-old will also be a doubt for Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses squad for the upcoming Nations League games against the Netherlands and Scotland in the first week of December.
Bright had knee surgery prior to last summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she skippered England to second place, before returning to pre-season training at Cobham ahead of the Women’s Super League season.
The defender, who took over as Chelsea skipper from Magdalena Eriksson for the new WSL season, featured in all seven matches as England finished runners-up behind Spain having not played a competitive game for club or country since March.
“I’ve made it clear that having so many games in quick succession, we’re managing our load,” said Hayes. “We wanted to give her a bit of extra time but I think she’s very much in doubt for (Thursday).
“Prior to the World Cup she had surgery on her knee, so preparation going into the World Cup wasn’t ideal. She rushed herself back.
“She’s come back and quickly into the Chelsea season, so perhaps she needed a little bit longer.
“Her knee’s a little bit angry at the minute. It’s not anything too detrimental, we’re just listening to her body and how it’s feeling.
“There’s a strong possibility (of missing the Lionesses’ games).”
Hayes said she is yet to decide whether she will travel to the United States during the international break, following the announcement last week that she is to take over the US national team after standing down as Chelsea coach in May.
But she reiterated her stance that until then she remains committed to helping the club to a fifth straight WSL title and a first Champions League crown.
The team will be looking to get the first win of their European campaign against Paris following the controversial 2-2 draw with Real Madrid last week.
“I’m not watching (the US players), I’m watching my own team,” said Hayes. “That’s the work of the full-time team that are in place. I don’t start working for US Soccer until May.
“Since I’ve been appointed as the coach I’ve had conversations with people. There are full-time people in post in the US and I’ll be there in May. When the opportunity arises I will have conversations. But my full focus is on Chelsea.”
Striker Sam Kerr praised her manager’s impact on the club during her 12-year tenure.
“It’s obviously sad,” she said. “Emma’s a great coach, a great leader and she’s been here for so long. But that’s football.
“Chelsea are very lucky that they’ve had her for as long as they have, but most of us in football are used to these things (managers leaving). We all wish her all the best (with the US).”
Hayes interjected: “Do you mean that?”
“No,” said Australia international Kerr.
Emma Hayes admitted it would be a fairytale end to her Chelsea career by lifting the Women’s Champions League for the first time at the end of the season.
Hayes will end her 12-year stay with the west-London club after this campaign.
The Champions League is the one major trophy that has eluded the 47-year-old during that time, with the Blues having lost 4-0 in the 2021 final to Barcelona and reached the semi-finals on three other occasions.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s opening Group D fixture v Real Madrid, Hayes told a press conference: “It would be a fairytale to win it, of course. But I didn’t grow up liking fairytales – my sister did.
“I would love nothing more than to be in a winning position with this team.”
Chelsea beat Real 2-0 at Kingsmeadow last season courtesy of goals from Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert before they drew 1-1 in the Spanish capital.
And Hayes, who highlighted the threat of left-back Olga Carmona, believes the experience of playing Wednesday’s opponents has helped her side’s preparations.
She added: “We have analysed last season’s match and Real Madrid’s other matches, including this weekend’s match (7-1 win v Real Sociedad). We know what to expect.
“I think having been here helps, it’s something familiar, but we don’t underestimate them.
“They have many qualities, but I think they have the best on the extremes. The ability to go upwards, especially on the left with Olga.
“They have players looking for the back and putting balls into the area and they are very good in transition.”
Chelsea captain Millie Bright admitted the news of Hayes’ departure is “devastating”.
She said: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I was devastated.
“She is a mentor, a coach, a friend, life coach – it’s more than football playing under her. It is the hard part of football. I feel privileged to have played under her for so long.”
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has clarified his comments around the Champions League qualifying format.
After finishing second in the Women’s Super League last season, United went through the competition’s qualifying rounds and were knocked out at the second hurdle on Wednesday night after being beaten 4-2 on aggregate by Paris St Germain.
Last year’s WSL winners Chelsea earned an automatic group spot, while third-placed Arsenal went into the qualifiers, where they were eliminated by Paris FC in the first round.
Skinner criticised the qualification rules post-match on Wednesday, suggesting it was “crazy” United played PSG in a qualifying round.
However, he moved to clear up his comments in a press conference on Friday, suggesting that the competition could be expanded.
Skinner said: “My comment was much more about the breadth and quality, I believe there is a need for more teams to be in this competition, and then you’ll see who is average and who isn’t.
“Who knows, we might have been average in a group stage, you don’t know that. If there was any offence taken then I’m sorry for that, but that’s not what I meant.
“What I meant, and I’ll be clear on it, was I think there should be a broader scope of teams and there should be more teams in this competition so that we can actually then see where the elite level lies within Europe.
“I still think that’s a bit cloudy because the reality is, if we were playing a team that are from – what people might believe- to be a league that doesn’t have the experience, then we don’t know until we’ve played those, we only ever play those teams in friendlies.
“If you really want the real quality from all of the European leagues to rise, then you’ve got to play them against each other, which I think now other teams are ready for.
“If you enter that stage and are getting through, then congratulations. We’re not there so we can talk about what that looks like, but they are there so congratulations to everyone who’s gone through.”
Melvine Malard came off the bench to head home an equaliser as Manchester United drew 1-1 with Paris St Germain in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying tie on a historic night at Leigh Sports Village.
On-loan Lyon forward Malard – who had also scored after coming on in last Friday’s 2-2 Women’s Super League draw with Arsenal at the same venue – netted in the 70th minute to cancel out Tabitha Chawinga’s 54th-minute opener.
Two-time Champions League finalists PSG had taken the lead after dominating for much of the first half of what was United’s European debut, following their second-placed finish in the WSL last season.
Marc Skinner’s side then responded impressively having gone behind, with substitutes Geyse and Malard helping them look far more threatening in attack.
The second leg takes place in Paris next Wednesday as the sides battle for a place in the Champions League group stage, for which WSL champions Chelsea have automatically qualified.
United – watched from the stands by former men’s team goalkeeper David de Gea, as well as England boss Sarina Wiegman – found themselves under pressure in the opening few seconds as Millie Turner cleared a Chawinga shot off the line.
And moments later another PSG burst forward saw Sandy Baltimore bring a good save out of Mary Earps.
As the visitors continued on the front foot, Lieke Martens headed over and Earps blocked an 11th-minute Baltimore shot with her legs, before a break in play brought about by an injury to PSG defender Oriane Jean-Francois, who was carried off on a stretcher, gave United some respite.
After Earps was subsequently called into action to deny Baltimore once more, United then had their first real opportunity in the 24th minute as Lucia Garcia looked to pounce on a misjudged backpass, only to be thwarted by goalkeeper Constance Picaud.
Skinner’s team looked more settled thereafter but were unable to build much in the way of attacking momentum, while further efforts from PSG saw Korbin Albert firing over and Chawinga’s strike being gathered by Earps.
Skinner brought on Geyse for Jayde Riviere at the interval and two minutes into the second half the Brazil forward went on an eye-catching run and fired off-target.
But soon after the hosts were behind as Chawinga latched on to Baltimore’s lofted pass and side-footed past Earps into the corner of the net.
Albert fired over seven minutes later before United went close as a corner was diverted goalwards and PSG substitute Marie-Antoinette Katoto intervened on the line.
Following a Leah Galton effort that went just wide of the visitors’ goal, Malard and Hinata Miyazawa were then introduced from the United bench – and four minutes later the former had the home side level, nodding in from Turner’s header following a corner.
As United pushed for another goal, Turner headed goalwards in the 85th minute but it was the latest effort cleared off the line as the sides ended up honours even.
England midfielder Keira Walsh outlined her ambitions to stay at serial winners Barcelona for the long haul after they sealed a stunning 3-2 comeback against Wolfsburg to lift the Champions League trophy for the second time in three years.
Saturday’s sold-out Eindhoven showpiece was the first time Walsh was part of a title-winning side in the European competition, while club and country team-mate Lucy Bronze is now a four-time champion following a trio of victories with Lyon.
Walsh, 26, joined Liga F champions Barcelona on a three-season deal last September, less than two months after winning the Euros with England, and admitted she is loving the look of her trophy cabinet.
She told DAZN: “It’s been a pretty good year. The Euros, the Champions League, I think if someone was to tell me this was going to happen I wouldn’t believe them.
“To play for Barcelona, for these fans, it’s a special, special feeling,” adding of her future at the club: “Yeah. I think you want to be playing in these games and winning Champions Leagues and this is the club that does that.”
Walsh’s side beat Chelsea to reach their fourth final in five seasons, and had redemption on their minds after a crushing 3-1 loss to Lyon in Turin last year.
Despite being heavy favourites there was a sense of deja vu for Barca, who conceded their fastest-ever opener in the competition when Ewa Pajor netted on just two minutes and 57 seconds.
That brought back memories of Turin, where Barcelona fell behind after just six minutes and conceded twice more before the break.
This time it was just a two-goal deficit at the restart after Alexandra Popp headed home on 37 minutes, but the shock nonetheless forced Walsh and her team-mates to dig deep.
They did so in spectacular style through Patricia Guijarro, who netted twice in two minutes to ensure it was all square after just five minutes of the second period, and Fridolina Rolfo sealed the result with a 70th-minute winner.
Walsh said: “First half, not great for us. I think we kept the ball but didn’t score on our chances, so to score three goals in the second half was incredible.
“We just came in at half-time and Alexia [Putellas] said that if there’s any team that can overturn a two-nil it’s this team and that’s what we did. Patri Guijarro, she’s a special, special player and I think today it’s about time that people recognised that.
“For me the best player in the world.”
Bronze, meanwhile, made history by becoming the first English player to win the Women’s Champions League with two different clubs in her first game back since recovering from an April knee injury.
It was enough to require surgery, which some feared might see her added to the list of Lionesses set to miss the World Cup, but the defender played the full final and looks fit to start England’s opener against Haiti in exactly seven weeks.
Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was on trophy-presenting duty at Saturday’s final, which got off to a shaky start for Bronze after her error led to Wolfsburg’s opener.
Bronze, who played the full match, said: “Once there was two goals we shut up shop, we made it really difficult defensively, created loads of chances in attack.
“It was difficult for myself and Frido, we both haven’t played for five weeks, obviously I’ve had surgery – I’ve only trained a couple of times. It was definitely difficult but I’m so happy to have played my part for the team.”
Fridolina Rolfo’s strike completed a stunning second-half comeback to secure Barcelona the Champions League trophy with a 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg at Eindhoven’s sold-out Philips Stadion.
The Spanish side were favourites to win a second title in three years but were stunned by Ewa Pajor’s opener after just three minutes, while skipper Alexandra Popp extended Wolfsburg’s advantage to two before the break.
Two goals inside two second-half minutes for Patricia Guijarro brought Barcelona back into the contest immediately following the restart before they benefited from a Wolfsburg error to seal the win.
Barca’s victory also made English history, with Lioness Lucy Bronze becoming the first from her country to win the Champions League title with two clubs having previously done so three times with Lyon.
Both sides had eliminated English opponents to get here, with Wolfsburg seeing off Arsenal and Barcelona reaching their fourth showpiece in five seasons after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea in their second leg to advance 2-1 on aggregate.
Current England and former Netherlands boss Sarina Wiegman brought out the trophy on a sunny afternoon in her native country, and was no doubt delighted to see Bronze, recovered from knee surgery, back in the Barcelona starting line-up exactly seven weeks before the Lionesses open their World Cup campaign.
It was the England defender’s mistake, however, that led to her side conceding after just two minutes and 57 seconds – the fastest Barcelona had ever fallen behind in the competition.
Barca had a shot stopped by Merle Frohms before Pajor won the ball off Bronze and made her way into the centre before drilling past Sandra Panos into the top right corner.
That likely conjured up painful memories for Barcelona, who conceded to eventual 3-1 winners Lyon after six minutes last year in Turin.
Irene Paredes cringed after wasting a free header, while at the other end Sveindis Jonsdottir had a half-volley saved for the Frauen-Bundesliga runners-up.
Caroline Graham Hansen found herself in a perfect position to level from Mapi Leon’s excellent delivery but the Norwegian could not connect and seemed thrown off by the bounce the ball took en route to the six-yard box.
As the Liga F champions struggled to settle into a dominant rhythm, Pajor turned provider and sent a fine delivery in the direction of her skipper to dutifully head home – Popp in the process equalling Ada Hegerberg’s UWCL record as she got herself on the finals scoresheet in a fourth separate season.
It took an alert Frohms to deny Salma Paralluelo late in the period and send her side into the second half with a two-goal advantage.
That was erased within five minutes after the restart when Guijarro collected Graham Hansen’s cut-back, then nodded her second past a leaping Frohms two minutes later from Aitana Bonmati’s delivery.
Barcelona’s comeback was complete after Lynn Wilms’ attempted clearance instead deflected off team-mate Kathrin Hendrich, allowing Mariona Caldentey to tap the ball to Rolfo, who fired in the 70th-minute winner from the edge of the six-yard box.
Both benches showed nerves during seven minutes of stoppage time, but it was Barca who ultimately survived a late scare to secure the trophy.
Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez believes experience will be key in the Women’s Champions League final against Wolfsburg.
The teams face off in Eindhoven on Saturday with Barca going for a second title and Wolfsburg a third.
Barca have won one – in 2021 – and lost two – in 2019 and last year – of the finals they have played.
Wolfsburg have been beaten finalists three times, most recently in 2020, and won the competition in 2013 and 2014.
Giraldez said: “Experience is one of the most important things and that goes for all areas of life. The more experience you have the better you will do.
“That doesn’t just go for Barcelona but also national teams. The more finals you have played in the better you know how to approach the week leading up to it, the match itself, mentally.
“All of that is important in football and sometimes you need time to gain that experience.”
Barca travelled to Eindhoven on Friday with a fully-fit squad after Lucy Bronze and Fridolina Rolfo were passed fit.
Giraldez added: “We need to minimise their strengths. We will be wary of their quick attacks and set-pieces. We want to dominate the game and not let them show their strengths.”
Wolfsburg finished second to Bayern Munich in the Frauen-Bundesliga this season and boss Tommy Stroot believes they can capture the title in Holland.
He said: “It is a realistic objective, I have made so many positive experiences. This final is very special for me and it’s always been an objective.
“It’s always the same thing for us, to decode the structure, to see what kind of frequencies they use. That is our daily work and my players know that as well.
“It’s a final but it’s no different to the semi-final against Arsenal. We try to watch even more games and decode even more things just to be prepared for every scenario possible.
“Our players are ready. It’s something special, not many teams have that privilege in a final. We have all the options to react on anything.”
Television coverage of the Women’s Champions League will move largely behind a paywall from next season, the rights holder DAZN has announced.
The group, which has broadcast the competition exclusively on its YouTube channel since 2021, said in a press release that it plans to include 42 of the competition’s 61 matches as part of a subscription package, with the other 19, including the final, remaining free to view.
Twelve group-stage matches as well as four from the (two-legged) quarter-finals and two from the semi-finals will also be available free on DAZN’s online platform, with the rest requiring viewers to pay £9.99 a month to watch.
The news comes as DAZN announced the findings of an investigation analysing the reach of its women’s football coverage.
The group reported that the Women’s Champions League is watched in more than 230 countries, with 362,000 subscribers to its platform.
The final of last season’s competition between Barcelona and Lyon was watched by 3.6million viewers across the broadcaster’s online and TV platforms.
DAZN’s global markets CEO Veronica Diquattro said: “We want to help the women’s game realise its potential, by reaching audiences and by developing its obvious commercial appeal to create a virtuous circle of investment, growth, raising standards and overall interest.”
Arsenal’s dream of reaching a first Women’s Champions League final since their 2007 triumph came to an end after Pauline Bremer’s extra-time goal saw Wolfsburg beat the Gunners 5-4 on aggregate.
The hosts opened the scoring through Stina Blackstenius in front of 60,063 at the Emirates – a record for a women’s club game in this country – but the strike was cancelled out by former Gunner Jill Roord before half-time.
Wolfsburg skipper Alexandra Popp pulled the visitors ahead after the restart before Jen Beattie’s equaliser forced extra time.
Katie McCabe came inches away when she pinged an effort off the crossbar, but it was the two-time Champions League winners who found the finishing touch to win 3-2 after extra time on the night and book their place in the June 3 Eindhoven final.
Arsenal, who drew 2-2 with the Frauen-Bundesliga side in the first leg, had never beaten their German opponents, who knocked the Gunners out at the quarter-final stage last year.
VAR was called into play inside the first three minutes for a potential Lotte Wubben-Moy handball, the Gunners dodging danger after an offside was eventually ruled.
It was not long before the technology once again ruled in the hosts’ favour, this time as Blackstenius, making her 50th appearance for Arsenal, latched on to Lia Walti’s long ball, skipped over her toppling challenger and finished low into the bottom right of the net, the goal standing after another review.
The visitors remained largely unfazed and enjoyed the possession advantage in the opening period, Lynn Wilms forcing Manuela Zinsberger into a good save before Roord sent an effort wide.
Blackstenius had a chance to make it two when Wolfsburg’s attempt to clear instead ricocheted back into the path of the Arsenal forward, who pivoted but could only fire squarely into the awaiting arms of Merle Frohms.
But it was all square at half-time after Noelle Maritz was booked for her challenge on Wolfsburg skipper Popp to win the visitors a free-kick inside Arsenal’s half.
Popp rose to nod Svenja Huth’s delivery in the direction of former Gunner Roord, who ensured it was all to play for after the break when she brought the ball down with her chest at the edge of the area before bouncing it past Zinsberger with her left foot.
Blackstenius thought she had made it two moments after the restart but another call to VAR saw it chalked off for offside before the Gunners survived a sustained wave of attack from the visitors.
Wolfsburg took the lead in the 58th minute when Popp connected with Felicitas Rauch’s corner and swiftly nodded past the near post.
It took an excellent tackle from Wubben-Moy to break up Ewa Pajor’s dangerous run at the edge of the six-yard box and prevent her side from falling further behind, then providing the lofted delivery for Beattie to head home for the equaliser in the 75th minute.
Celebrations were quickly subdued as Laura Wienroither became the latest name added to Jonas Eidevall’s growing list of injuries when she was stretchered off the pitch after a twisting fall.
Zinsberger picked Sveindis Jonsdottir’s effort out of the air in stoppage time to ensure another 30 minutes would be played, substitute Lina Hurtig coming close for the hosts in the first half with a close-range effort to force Frohms into a quick stooping save before Wolfsburg substitute Bremer sent an effort just wide.
McCabe rattled the bar, but it was the visitors who got the winner after Wubben-Moy was dispossessed by Jule Brand, who squared to Bremer for the winner.
Chelsea stopped Barcelona winning a home match for the first time in four years but fell short of a place in the Champions League final.
Guro Reiten’s second-half goal at the Nou Camp secured a 1-1 draw for Emma Hayes’ side and they pushed for a winner on the night but it was the Catalans who claimed a 2-1 victory on aggregate.
Barcelona have won 60 straight domestic matches at home dating back to February 2019, while the last time they did not win a Champions League match on home soil was against Lyon back in 2018.
Going into the clash having lost the home leg meant Hayes’ side, who were beaten 4-0 by Barca in their maiden final two years ago, faced a majorly uphill battle.
They were again without first-choice centre-back pairing Millie Bright and Kadeisha Buchanan as well as Fran Kirby, while England defender Lucy Bronze missed out for Barcelona following knee surgery, but Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was on the bench after 10 months out injured.
The hosts thought they had scored in the eighth minute as Chelsea’s defence hesitated but Graham Hansen handled the cross before poking the ball home.
For the rest of the first half Barca had the majority of possession and chances without really threatening to add to their lead – Asisat Oshoala and Maria Caldentey firing over from good openings.
Chelsea were just looking like they might offer some threat up front in the early stages of the second half when the hosts took the lead, 64 minutes in.
The influential Aitana Bonmati carried the ball to the edge of the box and slipped it to Graham Hansen, who scored her second goal of the tie despite the best efforts of Jess Carter on the line.
If that appeared to have ended the tie, Chelsea clawed their way back into it just three minutes later.
A fine tackle from Erin Cuthbert ended a Barca attack and Melanie Leupolz fed Sam Kerr, whose shot was saved by Sandra Panos only for Reiten to smash the ball in from the edge of the box.
Kerr had a couple of half openings as the visitors sought an unlikely winner but the clear chance did not come and Ann-Katrin Berger produced a fine save from Geyse to earn a draw on the night.
Barcelona move through to a third-straight final, where they will take on Arsenal or Wolfsburg in Eindhoven.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes remains hopeful her side can turn the tide against Barcelona after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Caroline Graham Hansen's fourth-minute strike settled the encounter at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Blues needing a victory in the return leg on Thursday.
After a shaky start, Chelsea responded by keeping their opponents at bay, a far cry from the last meeting between the two sides in the 2021 final, where Barcelona were four ahead after 36 minutes.
As such, Hayes was encouraged by her side's defensive display and remains hopeful for the return fixture.
"Barcelona are an amazing team. We had a disappointing start. But we grew into the first half, scored a goal that was offside, and we need to be perfect to beat these guys," she said.
"In the second half we needed to be better on the ball in the right moments but I'm grateful to be in a position where the tie wasn't over after 36 minutes. I see that as progress.
"You have to suffer. You have to be without the ball. One switch off and positional error cost us the goal.
"They have different threats. I think we limited them to as few chances as we possibly could and I'll take that going into the next game."
Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze was forced off through injury in the second half, a cause of major concern for England given Friday's announcement captain Leah Williamson would miss the World Cup with an ACL injury.
However, boss Jonatan Giraldez allayed those fears as he said after the game "the feeling is really good" for Bronze and her exit was precautionary.
Chelsea sealed a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Lyon to reach the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League, having rescued the tie through Maren Mjelde's last-gasp spot-kick in extra-time.
Despite winning last week's first leg 1-0, Chelsea appeared destined for an exit when Sara Dabritz drilled into the bottom-right corner in extra time after Venessa Gilles' flick had levelled the tie.
However, a trip on Lauren James gave Mjelde the chance to keep the game alive at the last, and the Norwegian made no mistake eight minutes into stoppage time, taking the contest to a shoot-out.
James and Wendie Renard both saw their kicks saved before Jess Carter converted, meaning Lyon's Lindsey Horan had to score to keep the holders in the competition.
Chelsea's Ann-Katrin Berger got down to her right to palm Horan's weak kick away, ensuring the Blues teed up an enticing semi-final tie against Barcelona – who beat Emma Hayes' team 4-0 in the 2021 final.
Earlier on Thursday, two-time champions Wolfsburg clinched a 1-1 draw at home to Paris Saint-Germain, recording a 2-1 aggregate success to set up a semi-final tie with Arsenal.
Having taken a first-leg lead through Dominique Janssen's penalty in the French capital last week, Wolfsburg found themselves with a two-goal cushion when Alexandra Popp fired home from outside the area 20 minutes in.
That strike came somewhat against the run of play after Kadidiatou Diani had an effort chalked off for offside, but there was no denying the forward when she nodded in on the half-hour mark.
Wolfsburg improved after the break and missed several chances to make the tie safe, but it was of little consequence as PSG failed to find a crucial second goal.
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