Emma Hayes spoke to DAZN after one of her greatest victories.
“It’s just half-time. Nobody should get carried away with that and to be honest I’m disappointed we didn’t get the second goal. It’s a difficult place to come, they carried out the game plan I asked them to do so from that perspective I’m happy.
“I think I know how to come away from home and get a result. We have not performed against Barcelona at home. We have under-performed when we played at home. Barcelona have another level in them and I think that’s clear. Maybe they don’t feel they were at their best today and we have to anticipate that.”
“We will only be as strong as the crowd hat comes out. It’s important we pack Stamford bridge out to give half a chance against the best team in the world. We are at half-time and there is another level to Barcelona.”
Chelsea have done it, the first defeat of the season for Barcelona. Emma Hayes’ dream lives on. A repeat performance in the second leg and Chelsea will return to the final. Erin Cuthbert’s goal did it and so did a supreme show of defending. Well done, Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd celebrate after their victory at Barcelona. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and Millie Bright salute the Chelsea fans. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images
Whilst Barcelona’s Lucy Bronze looks dejected. Photograph: Jose Breton/AP
90+9 min: Every Chelsea player back and defending, clearing balls from Graham Hansen and Bronze. A last-ditch free-kick comes into the box is nodded down and Putellas must score..but doesn’t and Chelsea have won!
90+5 min: Chelsea take a while over a corner, but fail to make anything of it. Lucy Bronze sets off with the ball and eventually Hampton comes out to sweep up the danger as Graham Hansen steals in.
90+2 min: Relief for Chelsea as the ball ends up in the hands of Hannah Hampton, and then more time is used as Ramirez, who was excellent, comes off and on comes Reiten.
83 min: Real frustration in the stadium and complaints from Bonmati as Nusken receives treatment. Chelsea are killing the clock but have a long spell of time added on to see out, too.
75 min: Chelsea pushing up and up, creating huge problems for Barca. Ramirez, for Chelsea, holds off Patri, and spins. She fires wide but that’s great centre-forward play.
Mayra Ramirez of Chelsea shoots wide against Barcelona. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images
72 min: Barcelona still playing patiently but how long can that remain the case? Jess Carter, who has played a fine game, clears out the danger once again.
69 min: Graham Hansen, who has been quiet all game, finally goes on a run. Putellas joins the throng, too, and then Rodolfo has a shot blocked. The resultant corner is leathered away.
64 min: Decent attack from Chelsea. James is given time and space to shoot but drags her left-foot shot wide. Barcelona have not been good here. They’ve been rattled and no mistake.
62 min: Was Ramirez fouled in the Barcelona box? Paredes looked to foul her. VAR is looking but no foul given. A raft of subs are made as Putellas and Bronze come on for Barcelona.
57 min: Gordon gets back in touch again: “After a nervous start, Chelsea have produced a wonderful first half. They’ve shut down all Barca’s threats, Hampton has not had a save to make. It must be ages since Barca did not have a shot on target in the first half. They need Putellas.”
56 min: That all took a very long time. And there are very loud boos to greet that decision – or change of decision. Chelsea still lead. That’s the main news.
There’s a hell of a long wait for the penalty, a VAR check as Caldentey has to wait as she takes the kick. Suddenly, Stephanie Frappart runs to the TV screen. All very odd, even for VAR. Was there a pull or an offside? Offside as Buchanan handled it. Hampton gets to take a goal kick rather than save a penalty.
Referee Stephanie Frappart reviews the VAR monitor. Photograph: Álex Caparrós/UEFA/Getty Images
Buchanan handballed it as Patri shoots. All on Hannah Hampton now.
The ball hits the arm of Chelsea's Kadeisha Buchanan as she vies for the ball with Barcelona's Salma Paralluelo. Photograph: Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images
Halfway to a great heist for Emma Hayes, with that excellent defending and then Erin Cuthbert’s expert strike. Barcelona have been made to look mortal.
43 min: Barcelona aren’t panicking, they try to resume their passing game. But Chelsea remain resolute and Keira Walsh makes a mess of a pass she would normally complete with ease.
