Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Hosts complete comeback to reach Women’s Champions League semi-finals after stunning first half

Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate): The hosts had trailed 2-0 after the first leg but came roaring back at Stamford Bridge

Flo Clifford
Thursday 27 March 2025 22:49 GMT
Comments
(Getty Images)

Chelsea produced a stunning first-half performance to overturn Manchester City’s first-leg lead at Stamford Bridge and reach the Women’s Champions League semi-finals for the third season in a row.

Trailing 2-0 from last week’s first leg in Manchester, Chelsea flew out of the blocks in a rampant display under Sonia Bompastor, scoring three times before the break through Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn and Mayra Ramirez.

It could, and should, have been more but Khiara Keating’s saves kept City in the tie and Vivianne Miedema, who scored both goals in City’s win last week, went close to grabbing an equaliser in the second half with a shot that whistled past the post.

But it’s Chelsea who advanced to join Arsenal in the next month’s semi-finals. The Blues will once again play reigning champions Barcelona, who have knocked Chelsea out in the semi-finals in the last two seasons.

Follow all the reaction from the Women’s Champions League with our live blog below:

Pinned

Chelsea obliterate Man City to send Champions League statement to familiar foe

That’s it for tonight as Chelsea deservedly go through after a blistering first-half performance.

Jamie Braidwood witnessed the masterclass first-hand at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona await, with the first leg played on 19/20 April.

Thanks for reading!

Chelsea obliterate Man City to send Champions League statement to familiar foe

Chelsea 3-0 Manchester City (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate): A first-half blitz turned this quarter-final around and set up a semi-final clash with Barcelona
Flo Clifford27 March 2025 23:00

'A new era' for Chelsea as they look ahead to semi-final

We’ll give the last word to Millie Bright and Nathalie Bjorn.

Chelsea have historically struggled against Barcelona but hte Blues captain was bullish about the chances.

“We’re a new team, we’re on a new journey, we’re in a new era. So bring it on,” she says.

Asked about how special it feels to reach the Champions League last four once again, Bjorn laughs, “I want to swear but I can’t swear! We’re really, really happy.”

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:50

More from Bright and Bjorn

“We’ve been speaking about it,” Bjorn jokes of her header, “one of us [her and Bright] has to score soon, I had a good opportunity before and I was like, now it’s time. The feeling was amazing.

“Like Millie said, we gained a lot of confidence [from the last game]. We know to play at Stamford Bridge, it’s our home, to come here and play is not easy.”

“She’s unbelievable, she’s been outstanding for us. Top quality performance today again,” Bright agrees.

Sky Sports then ask about the possibility of the quadruple, which the Blues are still on course for. Bjorn is a little bit coy - “100%” is all she says, about giving the fans hope for it.

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:40

Sonia Bompastor's Blues roll on

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:35

Chelsea's next opponent

Sonia Bompastor’s side looked phenomenal tonight but they’ll need to step up yet another gear against reigning champions Barcelona.

The Spanish side have beaten them in their two previous Champions League knockout encounters and earlier batted aside Wolfsburg 10-2 on aggregate, with a 6-1 thrashing in tonight’s earlier kick-off.

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:25

'A true Chelsea performance' - Millie Bright

A deservedly cheerful goalscorer Nathalie Bjorn and captain Millie Bright chat to Sky Sports after the game.

“We were never in doubt,” Bright says of the comeback. “We had full confidence within ourselves. Even from the first leg we had opportunities to go and win that game, so we were really confident in ourselves and we could have had way more than three goals.

“Unbelievable mentality and desire to come back. A true Chelsea performance.”

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:20

Semi-final line-ups

Two English sides advance to the semi-finals after Arsenal completed a comeback victory of their own last night at the Emirates.

The first legs will be played on 19 and 20 April, with the second legs on 26 and 27 April.

Here’s how they line up:

  • Barcelona v Chelsea
  • Arsenal v Lyon
Flo Clifford27 March 2025 22:15

Chelsea advance to the semi-finals

Jubilant scenes at Stamford Bridge as the Blues dance to, what else, Freed from Desire.

A first-half masterclass with goals from Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn and Mayra Ramirez made the difference.

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 21:58

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 3-0 Man City (agg 3-2)

Bronze takes her time with a throw-in, and that’s it! All over at Stamford Bridge!

Chelsea are into the semi-finals, where they’ll meet Barcelona for the third time in a row. What a comeback from 2-0 down at the start of this leg - it had been 21 years since a team had come back from that scoreline in the Women’s Champions League, and now we’ve had it happen twice in two days.

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 21:54

Chelsea 3-0 Man City (agg 3-2)

90+3 mins: Late challenge by Bronze on Fowler. Thirty seconds remaining, Keating takes a free kick and City’s entire squad head up the pitch...

Flo Clifford27 March 2025 21:52

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in