In many ways this was a typical first-leg encounter with neither side wishing to risk too much at this early stage.

Barcelona secured their 1-0 lead very early in the game, through a long-range strike by winger Caroline Graham Hansen, and although Chelsea had the ball in the net before half-time from the boot of Guro Reiten, that was ruled out due to an offside against Sam Kerr.

Reiten had another goal-bound attempt blocked before the interval but following a first half that ebbed and flowed, the second half was mostly quieter with defences put under pressure but holding firm. Ann-Katrin Berger was the busier of the two goalkeepers and made a quality save close to the end, having been thankful when Barcelona hit the post a few minutes before.

Before the end, an attendance of over 27,000 at Stamford Bridge saw a welcome return to action for Pernille Harder following the injury which has kept her out since November.

The selection

Emma Hayes made two changes from the side that won the FA Cup semi-final last weekend.

Champions League quarter-final shoot-out hero Ann-Katrin Berger returned in goal and Niamh Charles was preferred to Lauren James in what was a wing-back system. With Kadeisha Buchanan, ever-present in the Champions League up to now, and Millie Bright both missing through injury, Maren Mjelde and Magda Eriksson continued in central defence.

Speedy start by Spaniards

To set up this repeat of the 2021 final, Chelsea had overcome European champions Lyon in the quarter-finals while Barcelona had comfortably disposed of Roma. The Blues were fresh from an FA Cup semi-final win last weekend while Barca are in impeccable form in their domestic football.

This tie was a mouth-watering prospect, but it did not start well for the Blues who were a goal down within four minutes.

Questions will be asked about whether Caroline Graham Hansen should have been allowed to run unchallenged from deep and wide just inside our half. There is however no taking away from the fact the shot from outside the area and across Berger into the net could hardly have been better struck.

The next effort from the Norwegian was more tame and proved comfortable for Berger, who also saved from Fridolina Roflo early on, but what would be the response from Chelsea?

Guro Reiten and Sam Kerr combined on 20 minutes for a shot by the Australian which had the sting taken off when it hit a Barca defender. Might that have been by an upper arm? Play was waved on.

Flagged off

Today’s front two then linked up again and this time from Kerr’s centre, Reiten found the net. Sadly, her team-mate had been marginally offside earlier in the attack and the potential equaliser fell victim to the delayed flag from the assistant running the line.

However the Blues attack was starting to click and from a flick-on, Reiten made space sharply and shot on target, only for Lucy Bronze to be back to block close to the line.

Berger did well to stop another dangerous Graham Hansen run, diving at the winger’s feet at the cost of some pain. It was end-to-end action in the Stamford Bridge lunchtime sun.

Chelsea were not slow to try to find Kerr with early balls and one attempt by Jelena Cankovic almost paid dividends. There were signs the home side could find a way back into this game in the second half, but we were also thankful when a hammered ball by Graham Hansen flew across the face of Berger’s goal shortly before the half-time whistle.

Scoreless second period

The introduction of Lauren James for the second half moved Reiten deeper but the team shape largely remained the same.

The substitute shot straight at Sandra Panos in the Barca goal while at the other end, the Spaniards’ first-half goalscorer missed by some distance.

We endured a spell under pressure, with our opponents’ pace up front a test. As was James’s strong running for Chelsea, with Kiera Walsh booked for bringing down the Blues no.10. The free-kick that resulted led to a Cuthbert header but that was pouched by Panos.

There was a blow for Barca midway through the half when they lost Bronze to injury.

Inside the final 10 minutes, what had been a fairly low-key second half burst into life with first Marta Torrejon heading a corner against the Chelsea upright with Berger looking beaten, and the Blues quickly counter-attacking. Kerr could not find a team-mate with her ball into the box. Then Berger saved expertly from Rolfo at the near post.

Both managers made multiple changes close to the end but no further chances were forthcoming. Just a goal between the sides, this tie remains finely poised.

What’s next?

The return leg of this semi-final tie comes quickly, with the match in Barcelona taking place on Thursday. It is a 5.45pm kick-off (UK time).

Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Berger; Mjelde, Eriksson (c), Carter; Perisset (Rytting Kaneryd 84), Cuthbert (Ingle 68), Leupolz, Charles; Cankovic (James h-t), Kerr, Reiten (Harder 84).

Unused subs: Musovic, Orman, Abdullina, Fleming.

Booked: Kerr 36, James 71

Barcelona (4-3-3): Panos, Bronze (Torrejon 67), Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonamati, Walsh (Syrstad Engen 84), Guijarro; Graham Hansen (Oshoala 84), Geyse (Caldentey 60), Paralluelo (Crnogorcevic 84).

Unused subs: Coll, Codina Panedas, Fernandez, Pina, Vilamala, Rabana, Lopez.

Scorer: Graham Hansen 4

Booked: Leon 40, Walsh 63, Panos 90+3

Referee: Jana Adamkova from Czech Republic.

Crowd: 27,697