3️⃣ things to look out for as Chelsea face Barcelona in the Women's UCL | OneFootball

We're just 24 hours away from one of the most hotly-anticipated fixtures in the women's football calendar.

Thursday sees a heavyweight clash between Chelsea and Barcelona in the Champions League with both sides aiming to put a dent in their rivals European ambitions.

Here's what to expect when two titanic clubs collide.

Historic rivalry and head-to-head tensions

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The clash between Chelsea and Barcelona is laden with recent history. These two sides have met repeatedly in the latter stages of Europe’s premier competition, most notably in three consecutive semi-finals over the past three seasons.

Barcelona have had the upper hand, winning five of their first seven encounters, while Chelsea have only managed a solitary victory.

In their most recent, Barcelona eliminated Chelsea with twin 4–1 victories in both legs of last term's semi-final where the Blaugrana eventually went on to lose to Arsenal in the final

That dominance speaks to a psychological edge that the Catalan side clearly have over their English rivals. For Chelsea, overcoming that mental barrier will be almost as significant as any tactical or technical battle.

Injuries and squad availability

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Injuries could play a decisive role in this game. Chelsea are dealing with a number of setbacks with, most notably, their goalkeeper Hannah Hampton missing thanks to a thigh strain.

The Blues will also have their attacking options stretched with Mayra Ramírez having undergone hamstring surgery and sidelined for the rest of 2025.

For the Liga F giants however, they are able to lean on a full complement of players and travel to west London full of confidence thanks to their win over rivals Real Madrid at the weekend.

A litmus test

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Just how good are Chelsea under Sonia Bompastor? We're about to find out.

This fixture is more than just a Champions League game for the west London outfit, it’s a litmus test for their European ambitions.

Over the last few seasons, Barcelona have repeatedly stood in their way but if Chelsea can navigate injuries, hold firm tactically and finally break the pattern, it could mark a turning point in their continental journey.

For Barcelona, it's an opportunity to reinforce their status as Europe's benchmark in women’s club football. With momentum on their side, they will be confident in turning any advantage into a crucial three points.

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