Emma Hayes said the other day that a form of victory had been assured whatever happened in Gothenburg last night, though she may have been revising that opinion after 35 minutes in which her Chelsea team were ripped apart in the Women’s Champions League final. Gains in reaching this grand stage, such as a greater profile for the game in England, will surface eventually but they must have felt very much buried in the wreckage of a first-half defensive performance riddled with big-night nerves. SponsoredThe own goal conceded after only 33 seconds might have felt freakish had Barcelona not already struck the crossbar; and the very harsh penalty that gave Barcelona their second might have been worth complaining about had the Catalan side not been

Source: The Times May 16, 2021 23:03 UTC