The semi-finals of the Champions League for women start today. In the semi-finals, two teams from London will be seen, the fierce Barcelona and the only German Wolfsburg.
The semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League kick off on Saturday. Chelsea and Barcelona will meet in the semi-finals, and Arsenal and Wolfsburg in the second pair.
In London, fingers are crossed for a final between two English teams. However, Chelsea have a giant of the European football fields of recent years to deal with, whose trail in Spain has been dull. In the past season, FC Barcelona has won all 25 of their league games and scored 105 goals, conceding only five.
Chelsea, who are second in the English Super League, took a slightly different approach to preparing for Barcelona’s skillful two-touch football.
Chelsea’s representative team trained against the men’s under-18 and under-16 academy teams last week. With this, the Londoners aim to simulate the tempo of the game, which the struggle against the Catalan club in the Champions League may require.
As mentioned, the trick is familiar from within Chelsea. The women’s representative team has often practiced before big matches against their club’s men’s academy teams. The same has also been done by local opponent Arsenal, who are now also playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The goal is to make the exercises harder and more competitive.
– It’s a great opportunity that any football team in the world would take: this way we can make training harder than our games, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall commented on his team’s decision last season For The Athletic (you are switching to another service).
– It roughly means that if we are successful in training, we will be successful in the game as well. In the right situation, we have a bit more time and a bit easier.
Although the English are hoping for a mutual final, both London teams are plagued by injuries. Chelsea’s key players Magdalena Eriksson and Millie Bright have suffered knee injuries.
On the Arsenal side, the team and England captain Leah Williamson injured his knee against Manchester United on Wednesday. Williamson is at worst going to miss next summer’s World Cup due to his injury, Sky Sports (switch to another service) tells. Knee injuries suffered by top female players have generated a lot of discussion over the past year.
Chelsea and FC Barcelona meet today at Stamford Bridge at 14:30. Wolfsburg and Arsenal will play the 1st semi-final tomorrow at 16:30.