Tokyo 2020 hopefuls shine on road to Gothenburg
UEFA Women’s Champions League
02 May 2021
- Barcelona and Chelsea reach UEFA Women’s Champions League final
- Barça edged Paris 3-2 on aggregate, Chelsea beat Bayern 5-3
- Final on 16 May in Gothenburg at 21:00 CET
Several players who are expected to shine at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 played key roles in helping their clubs advance to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, where both Barcelona and Chelsea will be desperate to lift the continental club trophy for the first time.
Barcelona opened the day with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain thanks to Dutch star Lieke Martens’ first-half brace. Marie-Antoinette Katoto replied almost immediately after Martens’ second, however Barça proved to be too strong in the end and were deserved winners, booking a place in the final for the second time in their history. The Spanish giants lost 4-1 to Olympique Lyonnais in their first final appearance in 2019.
Martens has scored five goals in her last five matches for Barcelona in all competitions.
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![Barcelona celebrate a goal against Paris]()
Barcelona celebrate a goal against Paris
02 May 2021
Johan Cruyff Stadium Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona, Barca celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Gerard Franco
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![Players walk out to the pitch at Johan Cruyff Stadium]()
Players walk out to the pitch at Johan Cruyff Stadium
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / ZUMA Wire** May 2, 2021, Barcelona, Spain: Irene Paredes of PSG during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona, Barca and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
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![Lieke Martens scores for Barcelona]()
Lieke Martens scores for Barcelona
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sports Press Photo** Johan Cruyff Stadium Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona, Barca score a goal during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
© imago images
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![Lieke Martens celebrates scoring a goal against Paris]()
Lieke Martens celebrates scoring a goal against Paris
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sports Press Photo** Johan Cruyff Stadium Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona, Barca celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
© imago images
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![Lieke Martens of Barcelona celebrates a goal]()
Lieke Martens of Barcelona celebrates a goal
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sports Press Photo** Johan Cruyff Stadium Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona, Barca celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. Gerard Franco
© imago images
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![Barcelona celebrate a goal during the UEFA Women Champions League semi-finals]()
Barcelona celebrate a goal during the UEFA Women Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sports Press Photo** Johan Cruyff Stadium Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona, Barca celebrate a goal during the UEFA Champions League Women semifinal second leg match between FC Barcelona and PSG at Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.
© imago images
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![Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal with his team mates during the UEFA Women's Champions League Semi Final]()
Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his side’s 2nd goal with his team mates during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final
02 May 2021
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 02: Lieke Martens of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his side’s 2nd goal with his team mates during the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at Estadi Johan Cruyff on May 02, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images )
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![Fran Kirby of Chelsea scores the first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Fran Kirby of Chelsea scores the first goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sportimage** Kington Upon Thames, England, 2nd May 2021. Fran Kirby of Chelsea scores the first goal to make the score (2-2) during the UEFA Women s Champions League match at Kingsmeadow, Kington Upon Thames. Picture credit should read: Paul Terry / Sportimage
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![Fran Kirby celebrates scoring a goal in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Fran Kirby celebrates scoring a goal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sportimage** Kington Upon Thames, England, 2nd May 2021. Fran Kirby of Chelsea (r) celebrates scoring the first goal to make the score (2-2) during the UEFA Women s Champions League match at Kingsmeadow, Kington Upon Thames. Picture credit should read: Paul Terry / Sportimage
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![Sarah Zadrazil scores the equalising goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Sarah Zadrazil scores the equalising goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sportimage** Kington Upon Thames, England, 2nd May 2021. Sarah Zadrazil of Bayern Munich scores the equalising goal during the UEFA Women s Champions League match at Kingsmeadow, Kington Upon Thames.
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![Sarah Zadrazil of Bayern Munich (l) turns to celebrate her goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Sarah Zadrazil of Bayern Munich (l) turns to celebrate her goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / Sportimage** Kington Upon Thames, England, 2nd May 2021. Sarah Zadrazil of Bayern Munich (l) turns to celebrate her goal during the UEFA Women s Champions League match at Kingsmeadow, Kington Upon Thames. Picture credit should read: Paul Terry / Sportimage
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![Ji Soyun celebrates a goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Ji Soyun celebrates a goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / PA Images** Chelsea v Bayern Munich – UEFA Women s Champions League – Semi Final – Second Leg – Kingsmeadow Chelsea s Ji So-yun (second right) celebrates scoring their side s second goal of the game during the UEFA Women s Champions League semi final, second leg match at Kingsmeadow, London.
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![Pernille Harder celebrates a goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Pernille Harder celebrates a goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
**IMAGO / PA Images** Chelsea v Bayern Munich – UEFA Women s Champions League – Semi Final – Second Leg – Kingsmeadow Chelsea s Pernille Harder celebrates scoring their side s third goal of the game during the UEFA Women s Champions League semi final, second leg match at Kingsmeadow, London.
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![Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side's fourth goal during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals]()
Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side’s fourth goal during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals
02 May 2021
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their side’s fourth goal during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on May 02, 2021 in Kingston upon Thames, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates with Sam Kerr and team mates after scoring their side's fourth goal]()
Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates with Sam Kerr and team mates after scoring their side’s fourth goal
02 May 2021
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Fran Kirby of Chelsea celebrates with Sam Kerr and team mates after scoring their side’s fourth goal during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on May 02, 2021 in Kingston upon Thames, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Ann-Katrin Berger of Chelsea celebrates her team's first goal scored by Fran Kirby (not pictured) during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women's Champions League Semi Final match]()
Ann-Katrin Berger of Chelsea celebrates her team’s first goal scored by Fran Kirby (not pictured) during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match
02 May 2021
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Ann-Katrin Berger of Chelsea celebrates her team’s first goal scored by Fran Kirby (not pictured) during the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on May 02, 2021 in Kingston upon Thames, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Emma Hayes, manager of Chelsea celebrates victory]()
Emma Hayes, manager of Chelsea celebrates victory
02 May 2021
KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MAY 02: Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea celebrates victory following the Second Leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi Final match between Chelsea FC and Bayern Munich at The Cherry Red Records Stadium on May 02, 2021 in Kingston upon Thames, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
Fantastic Fran
One player who will be looking to make an impression at the Olympic Games for the first time will be Fran Kirby. Scoring two goals in the semi-finals to lead her club to their first-ever Champions League final will certainly help her as she continues to prepare for the global tournament.
Kirby opened the scoring after just 11 minutes after combing with another Tokyo 2020-bound star in Australia’s Sam Kerr. A Sarah Zadrazil stunner put the result in serious doubt for Emma Hayes’ side, however a long-distance strike from Ji Soyun got the Blues back on track.
Denmark’s Pernille Harder headed in the decisive goal in the 84th minute before Kirby put the cherry on top, finishing off a counter attack in stoppage time to set up a final at Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, on 16 May against Barcelona.
Chelsea’s victory was their first in their six Champions League semi-final matches, as the Blues previously lost four and drew one.
The goals
What they said
“To every coach at home, I’m going to say: this thousands of hours of travelling, thousands of setbacks, working with teams and different moments. I’m so proud of myself. I’ve got to this level through my hard work, my dedication, and I’m fortunate to be working for a football club that I adore. I work for a set of players who were always in control – I never felt I was, but they did everything possible.
“We knew they were going to change something; we had to change something too. We dealt with their threats and they gave us the space to counter, which is where we got the first goal from. We conceded far too many set pieces but we adjusted that and put bodies on the line. I played them a video, before the game, of a UFC star talking to herself, saying ‘I am the best, I am the best.’ The cameras asked her about it afterwards and she said, ‘but I am the best.’ Someone described us as ‘mentality monsters’, and we are the best. We’re in this position because we deserve it.”
Chelsea coach Emma Hayes, speaking to BT Sport
“Two years ago, in Budapest, we went to really live the experience of our first Champions League final, but this time we are going to Gothenburg to win.”
Barcelona coach Lluis Cortes
