The Champions League semi-finals are played over the next two weekends before the final in Eindhoven on June 3.
From London to Barcelona, via Germany, it is the enticing program of the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League, the first legs of which are played on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 April. A last four in which no French club appears, a first since 2014, but with two major oppositions on paper: Chelsea-Barcelona and Wolfsburg-Arsenal.
Chelsea, in search of a first coronation
The Blues achieved the feat of the quarter-finals: bring down defending champions Lyonnaises, after a breathtaking double confrontation, and go for the decisive penalty shoot-out. A success with the taste of triumph for players who had completely missed their last European campaign, eliminated without even passing the hens. The only team among the four entered to have never won the competition, the Chelsea players find Barcelona, who had shattered their dream of winning the final in 2021 (4-0 defeat). Carried by an impenetrable defense (six clean sheets), they have the weapons to take their revenge.
Barcelona, the attacking favorite
The Barcelona women come forward with their recent experience at the highest continental level. Winners in 2021, they also reached the final last season, beaten by Lyon. Authors of 29 goals in the six group matches, the Catalans once again demonstrated their efficiency in front of goal in the quarter-finals against Roma, winning their double confrontation without shaking and adding six additional goals in their pocket (1-0, 5-1). Flamboyant in attack, Barça also relies on a solid defense. The teammates of Alexia Putellas, who could sign her return, move on the lawn of Stamford Bridge without having conceded the slightest away goal in 2023 in all competitions.
Wolfsburg, collective strength
After dismissing Paris Saint-Germain, Wolfsburg continues to dream of a return to the top. Double European champions, the Germans remain on three finals lost in eight years. But this year, they can rely on an extremely well-rehearsed collective, which shone in the resounding Cup victory against Bayern (5-0) last weekend. Carried by the top scorer in the competition, the Polish Ewa Pajor (7), they can also count on their nugget Lena Oberdorf (21), and on the former Gunners Jill Roord and Dominique Janssen, who have become essential in the group. Enough to forget the absence of the experienced Alexandra Popp, injured during the last international break.
Arsenal, in search of their past glory
After ten years without reaching the last four, the Londoners will finally taste a European semi-final. The reward for a solid campaign, started with a bang by beating OL in Lyon for their entry into the running in September (5-1), and despite several injuries (Miedema, Mead). To aim for a first Champions League final since its coronation in 2006, Arsenal will have to get rid of its old curse against the Germans. Eliminated twice by Wolfsburg (2022, 2013), the Gunners have also historically fallen against Duisburg (2010) and Frankfurt (2006, 2012). They have already started to reverse the trend in the previous round by overthrowing Bayern Munich, the reigning German champions.