BARCELONA – Erin Cuthbert’s fine strike earned Chelsea an impressive 1-0 win at holders Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League semi-final, first leg on April 20, while Lyon staged a remarkable fightback to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2.

Chelsea defended brilliantly at the Olympic Stadium to beat a Barcelona side aiming to win the trophy for the third time in four seasons.

Jonatan Giraldez’s side, who hammered Chelsea 4-0 in the 2021 final and shaded the Blues in a tight battle in last season’s semi-finals, were left frustrated in their first home defeat in over five years.

Emma Hayes is hoping to crown her tenure at Chelsea – before taking over the United States women’s national team – with her first Champions League triumph as a coach.

After defeats in the FA Cup semi-finals and the League Cup final, Chelsea’s bid for a quadruple has crumbled in the last few weeks, while Barcelona’s is alive but dented by Cuthbert’s fine goal.

“We know Barcelona are the best team in Europe and everything has to be perfect for you to get close to winning a game of football,” Hayes told reporters.

“We took our chance and did a lot to limit their chances. You can only do that together, not individually, and the team as a whole did that today.”

Hayes’ game plan worked to perfection as Chelsea reduced a usually dominant Barcelona to remarkably few chances while threatening occasionally on the counter-attack.

Having never beaten the Catalan side before, the Blues set up with three centre-backs and plenty of grit.

They soaked up Barcelona pressure without letting the two-time winners work many dangerous openings.

Chelsea shocked the hosts by capitalising on their first real attacking move five minutes before half-time.

Sjoeke Nusken manoeuvred well in the box, turning and finding captain Cuthbert, who worked some space before arcing a shot beyond goalkeeper Cata Coll.

Barcelona fans tried to rouse their team for the second leg at Stamford Bridge on April 27 by chanting “Yes we can” at full time.

“It’s Barcelona, they are the champions – they will be angry,” said Hayes, anticipating a strong response from Giraldez’s side.

The Barca coach, also heading to the US at the end of the season to take over the Washington Spirit, said his team would keep their nerves.

“We’re calm, we still have 90 minutes ahead,” said Giraldez.

“A draw would have been perhaps fair – there were few chances and in football when things are balanced, minor details make a difference.”

In the later semi-final, Lyon produced an astonishing comeback as they recovered from two goals down to win at home against French rivals PSG.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s brace either side of half-time put PSG in control, but Lyon struck three times in the final 10 minutes to snap their opponents’ 20-match unbeaten run.

Kadidiatou Diani scored against her former club before Melchie Dumornay fired Lyon level on 85 minutes, with Amel Majri coming off the bench to hit the winner.

Said PSG’s coach Didier Olle-Nicolle: “We felt a real chemistry between the team and the fans, despite the score. So despite the disappointment, they didn’t stop for 95 minutes, so I really want to thank them.”

Lyon are the competition’s record eight-time champions, while PSG finished runners-up in 2015 and 2017. AFP