“If we disconnect for a second, they will defeat us,” Emma Hayes is clear that the advantage achieved in the first leg (1-0) is not enough to face the favorites in the series. Mayra Ramírez was key to unbalancing Giráldez’s defense and now at Stamford Bridge she wants to be the protagonist to make history, being the first Colombian to play in a Women’s Champions final. Chelsea wants revenge against Barcelona, after that semi last season.
This Saturday starting at 11:30 in the morning, London will be paralyzed waiting for Chelsea to finish the work that began the previous weekend at the Lluís Companys, where With Erin Cuthbert’s goal they took the lead against a Barcelona that showed its worst side, ending the Catalans’ 335-day undefeated streak without losing.. The English cling to the statistic that says they haven’t lost in 10 Champions League games.
Mayra and her physical power, a constant threat
The Barcelona coach and future coach of Leicy Santos at the Washington Spirit, Jonatan Giráldez, has been referring to Mayra Ramírez for a long time, He faced her several times when he played for Levante and just before moving to Chelsea, the coach recognized the capabilities of the National Team forward. Differential in the last meters and with great physical capacity, said the Spaniard in January of this year.
The 25-year-old forward was a nightmare for the Blaugrana defense in Montjuïc. Her wear and positioning on the field made the work of the locals quite uncomfortable, who had to resort to fouls to stop her attacks. Mayra, without having the same scoring quota as Kerr, has managed to become a vital player for the offensive phase that Hayes proposes. Either in a pivot role so that players like Cuthbert, Leupolz, Nüsken and even James can arrive from behind or in one-on-one situations where most of the time they prevail.
Although he did not work alongside the group in the last practice. His presence as a starter would not be in doubt. Emma Hayes would come out with the same eleven from the first leg.
Chelsea recovers players and Emma hopes for a different Barcelona
Nathalie Bjorn, Maren Mjelde and Millie Bright will be available for the match at Stamford Bridge, the first two return for this game, while Bright was already on the substitute bench in the first leg. Sam Kerr, Aniek Nouwen and Mia Fishel remain casualties and continue with their recovery process. The rest of the squad is available with Mayra included.
The Chelsea coach also referred to what she expects from Barcelona and made it clear that they will most likely have changes. “All I can do is prepare the team for the opponent’s possibilities, whether they put a false nine going down, or they access the pivot a little more, with a more direct game with Salma Paralluelo moving to the left and Alexia Putellas. maybe like a false nine”.
Emma maintained that Barcelona is still the best team in the world and that is why they will have to be very careful when playing, without losing their essence. “We have to play our game. Our game is not Barcelona’s game, we do not pretend to be Barcelona. Nobody is Barcelona, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win and it simply means you have to play to your best strengths. Also, recognizing that no matter what Barcelona does, it will destroy any team.”
Numbers with which Mayra reaches the second leg semi-final
The Colombian has made 12 games, 1 assist and 3 goals since her arrival in London at the end of January of this year, one of them to contribute to the qualification for the semis against Ajax. In the Champions League she accumulates 155 minutes in 2 games she has had, both as a starter.
In UCL he has played 17 duels and has won 13, he has had 1 interception, 30 passes and 2 safety. He has made most of his passes backwards, always responding to his role as a pivot, 9 forward, 6 to the right and 3 to the left.
Background between Chelsea and Barcelona
It will be the fifth time they face each other. The Spanish have the advantage with 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. The first game they played was the final of the Champions League of the 20/21 season that was played in Gothenburg and there the Catalans won with a resounding 4-0 to win the title.
- End of 20/21: Chelsea 0-4 Barcelona.
- First leg semi-final of 22/23: Chelsea 0-1 Barcelona.
- Second leg semi-final of 22/23: Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (agg: 1-2).
- First leg semi-final of 23/24: Barcelona 0-1 Chelsea.
Probable lineups for Chelsea and Barcelona
Chelsea: Hannah Hampton; Ashley Lawrence, Jess Carter, Kadiesha Buchanan, Niamh Charles; Erin Cuthbert, Melanie Leupolz; Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nüsken, Lauren James and Mayra Ramírez.
DT: Emma Hayes.
Barcelona: Cata Coll; Lucy Bronze (Ona Battle), Irene Paredes, Ingrid Engen, Fridolina Rolfö; Aitana Bonmatí, Keira Walsh, Patri Guijarro (Alexia Putellas); Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo and Mariona Caldentey (Claudia Pina).
DT: Jonatan Giraldez.
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