The stage was set in West London, as a sold out Stamford Bridge geared up to play host to the final leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final between Chelsea and Barcelona.

The Blues enter the fixture with a 1-0 advantage on aggregate, thanks to a brilliant strike from Erin Cuthbert at Estadi Olïmpic Lluis Companys.

Emma Hayes opts for just the one change from the reverse fixture, as Mayra Ramirez makes way for Catarina Macario in the Chelsea starting eleven.

CHE: Hampton; Charles, Carter, Buchanan, Lawrence, Cuthbert, Leupolz, Nüsken, Rhytting Kaneryd, James, Macario

BAR: Coll; Rölfo, Engen, Paredes, Bronze, Walsh, Patri, Bonmatí Graham Hansen, Rölfo, Paralluelo

The hosts got proceedings underway in West London, as Lauren James kicked off play from the spot.

The first real chance of the evening arrived at the hands of the visitors, as Fridolina Rölfo burst up the left side in possession. Though Jess Carter picked up just where she left off, as her firing defence saw the ball fall behind for a corner that prospered to no affect.

Keira Walsh involved herself by finding the feet of Graham Hansen, though the Norwegian found herself on the floor after a teamed challenge on the edge of the area. Though her calls for a foul were unanswered, as the Blues regained possession.

Chelsea had their first slice of action as Erin Cuthbert located Ashley Lawrence with a brilliant cross-field find. The Canadian defender looked to oversell her ball in, before Cuthbert met the remains outside of the area. Despite her efforts, the Scottish midfielder sent her strike flying wildly over the cross bar.

Hannah Hampton was called into action as the clock reached it’s twenty minute mark, after Graham Hansen liked her chances from a looping clearance. The Norwegian forward struck with confidence, though Hampton made sure the attempt was to go no further than her safe hands.

The equaliser would be found in the 24th minute, and by none other than Aitana Bonmatí. Circling in possession before leading Niamh Charles astray with her decisive footwork, the Ballon d’Or winner struck from distance, as a helping deflection from Kadeisha Buchanan saw the net ripple.

The goal means that Bonmatí now joins Alexia Putellas as the top goal scorer for Barcelona across the UEFA Women’s Champions League with 21 goals.

The hosts looked like they would answer immediately, as Lauren James and Cat Macario combined well down the right side. A splitting cross from James found Melanie Leuploz unmarked within the six-yard box, before the midfielder sent her strike into the crossbar under no pressure at all.

The fixture continued to bring the fireworks, as Macario looked to provide the hosts with the aggregate advantage with a brilliant strike from range. Though the celebrations were cut short, as a stellar save from Catalina Coll saw the attempt palmed away at the death.

The half drew to a close, as a finish from Bonmatí drew proceedings level at the break here at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea looked lively come the second interval, as James located Lawrence on the advance with a line breaking ball. Lawrence’s cut-back was perfect, though Nüsken failed to hit the target unmarked inside of the area.

Tensions would continue to rise as the clock ran down, as Buchanan’s challenge on Patri saw the defender find herself a controversial second yellow- putting Chelsea down to ten men.

Aitana Bonmatí continued to cause headaches for the Blues last line, as she swept past Lawrence and Carter in the attack. Both Chelsea defenders put their body in to the challenge illegally, as the referee signalled to the spot for a penalty kick. Cool, calm and collected from the spot was Rölfo, as she belted home the advantage at Stamford Bridge.

Emma Hayes was leaving no stone unturned in her final fixture at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea captain Millie Bright made her return from injury- only to be put on the firing line in the striker’s position as her side desperately searched for the equaliser.

Though the deployment of their number 4 would make no difference, as the final whistle blew to send Barcelona through to the Final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The Halfway Line Player of the Match: Aitana Bonmatí