Barça and Stamford Bridge. Two names that seem destined to be written together on the most epic pages of the club. Fifteen years ago, Andrés Iniesta turned the temple of Chelsea into a magical stage for Barça fans, and yesterday, Fridolina Rolfö added more pages to this beautiful story by scoring the goal that sent Barça to the San Mamés Champions League final. In the same goal and wearing the yellow shirt. The fate was written.
On a cold and gray day in London, the rain predicted at match time arrived on time for the appointment. A fine veil that fell incessantly throughout the game as a life-and-death battle was fought under the skies of the London capital. The ticket to the Champions League final is at stake, no less.
The initial whistle sounded and the stands began their particular match between chants of the Blaugrana and the blues. Also the match on the lawn. A high-voltage match that started with great intensity, perhaps too much for a FC Barcelona more used to controlling matches than to being embroiled in bouts of so much pressure. He resisted with solvency but was hasty. He wanted, he needed, an early goal and the rush prevailed in the control in the first bars. Little by little, Barça gained more possession, but were watched very closely by a lethal Chelsea on the counter. Especially for his left lane, where Ashley Lawrence won time and time again on the back of Lucy Bronze. Between her and Leupolz they turned the English side’s game into a martyrdom.
But the Blaugrana were winning the game and Caroline Graham Hansen sent the first shot between the three posts at the exit of a corner, stopped by an attentive Hampton in two steps. It was the prelude to what was to come later, in the 25th minute. A magnificent pass between the lines by Patri Guijarro reached the feet of Aitana Bonmatí who, with a powerful cross shot, pierced the opponent’s goal after the shot touched the legs of Buchanan, which made it impossible for Hampton to do anything about it. The Barça bench went crazy as the midfielder ran towards them celebrating the goal that tied the tie. Players and coaching staff melted into a thousand hugs and screams of rage. The comeback was closer, neutralizing the 0-1 first leg in favor of Chelsea.
Although Chelsea would immediately be in charge of proving to the Blaugrana that any small mistake could be paid very dearly. Leupolz crashed a powerful pipe over the crossbar, past the half-hour mark, while the Barça bench was growing impatient. The players commented on the plays nervously while Chelsea paradoxically lived their best minutes. The culer team resisted and went to the dressing room just one goal away from the comeback.
In the second half, Barça came out well, much more recognizable in their football, combining with patience and weaving plays in attack, but Chelsea would once again be responsible for bringing them down to earth. Lucy made a crass defensive error that left Nüsken alone. Fortunately, his shot hit the post.
The game would turn around for the Blaugrana when Chelsea were left with ten due to the expulsion of Buchanan in the 59th, who saw the second yellow for an ugly tackle on the ankle of Patri Guijarro. Every minute that passed, Barça felt more comfortable. He found his football again, although he needed to be more incisive in attack. And then, Aitana was attacked inside the area in a very clear penalty that Fridolina Rolfö was surprisingly responsible for sending. The Swede did not fail, and in the same goal where Andrés Iniesta scored one of the most iconic goals in Barcelona fifteen years ago, she scored the 0-2 that gave Barça the pass to the Champions League final. But there was a quarter of an hour left in the game.
The rain intensified, as if to accompany the thousands of blue throats trying to turn Stamford Bridge into a hell for spoons. The fans pushed their team like never before, trying to make up for Buchanan’s absence with their push, and it was Barça’s turn to make a titanic exercise of resistance. But he resisted, keeping the ball. And it’s already in a new final, the fourth in a row. Today they will know who their rival is for May 25 in San Mamés. PSG or Lyon.
