Chelsea and Barcelona played out a tense 1-1 draw in the Women's Champions League on Thursday, 20th November 2025, in a match that was unexpectedly paused due to technical problems at Stamford Bridge.
Match Action and Disallowed Goal
Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, with defender Ellie Carpenter scoring to put the home side ahead against their European rivals. However, the lead was short-lived, as Barcelona's Ewa Pajor found an equaliser just ten minutes later. The match seemed poised for a dramatic finale when Chelsea substitute Catarina Macario thought she had scored a late winner, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside in the 83rd minute.
Technical Disruption Halts Play
The Group Stage fixture experienced an unusual interruption when it was briefly halted due to technical difficulties. The issues affected the stadium's television screens and, crucially, the referee's communication equipment, forcing a pause in play until the problems were resolved.
Implications for the Group Stage
The result brings an end to Chelsea's run of three consecutive defeats against Barcelona, offering a morale-boosting performance. However, the single point leaves Chelsea in sixth position in the league phase after four fixtures. This places them outside the coveted automatic qualification spots for the quarter-finals, making their remaining matches in the competition critical.
