By winning the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in Spain, Chelsea Women brought to an end a myriad of runs of successful results for Barcelona, some of them stretching back six years.

Straight after that game last weekend, Emma Hayes was clear that obtaining the right result to make the final in the re-match at Stamford Bridge would be an even harder task. It is a point she has emphasised again on the eve of the game.

Our opponents have not been defeated in a two-legged Champions League tie since the 2017/18 quarter-final, and they won without conceding the last two times they visited England, including the first leg of last year’s semi when they won 1-0 at the Bridge.

Following Erin Cuthbert's goal last Saturday, the Blues know if we avoid defeat this time it will be our turn to progress.

‘Barcelona are the best team in the world. They know how to be in this position,’ stated Hayes.

‘They can hurt you in so many different ways that for us as a team, we have to be so mindful that you can't switch off for one single second. This is a game that's played in the head, first and foremost. We know that we absolutely have to be perfect.’

Boosting the Blues’ chances is some good fitness news. Our manager confirmed that Millie Bright, who was back on the bench in Spain having been out since November, will again be in the squad, as will another two defenders who have been missing through injury – Nathalie Bjorn and Maren Mjelde.

With Barcelona’s many options in attack, Hayes admits she cannot predict exactly the plan Jonatan Giraldez’s team will come with.

‘All I can do is prepare the team for the possibilities, whether that be a false nine coming lower, whether it be they access the pivot a little more, whether it be with more direct play with Salma Paralluelo moving to the left and Alexia Putellas maybe as a false nine.

‘There's a lot of permutations but I can't fixate on that. We can prepare for some of the tactical details around that but we have to play our game too. Our game is not Barcelona's game, we're not trying to be Barcelona. Nobody is Barcelona but that doesn't mean you can't win and it just means that you have to play to your best strengths and recognise that no matter what Barcelona do, they will pull any team apart.

‘Do I expect they will make changes tactically and maybe personnel? Yes, 100 per cent.

‘This week just feels like a longer half-time - the halfway stage of the game - so we've made the adjustments at half-time and we're ready for the second half. That's how I present it to the players.

‘We’re ready, we want to be in this position, and I look forward to the crowd helping us because we need them tomorrow.’