Theo: Emma Hayes... down to earth, genuine and passionate. There’s no better ambassador for women’s football.

No pressure then...

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Chelsea's recruitment has been stellar in their bid to push for major honours, with big names such as Melanie Leupolz and Pernille Harder brought to Kingsmeadow.

However, few signings have contributed as much in terms of fanfare and tangible benefit as Australian striker Sam Kerr.

Kerr, 27, has a near-one-in-two strike rate at international level and played in the US competition with Chicago before heading for Europe and the Blues.

She's become a real goal machine in the Women's Super League, scoring 21 this season to deliver the championship and the League Cup, and now has sights on the Champions League and the FA Cup to bring up the quadruple.

"It's special but we've still got more to go," said Kerr.

"I think whenever you're doing something that hasn't been done before, it's a little bit extra special. It is a really proud moment.

"We are the first Chelsea women's team to get to the final so it's a special moment. But we haven't won anything yet."

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After three semi-final exits for Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, finally the Londoner can experience the unique atmosphere of a Champions League final.

Her side, assembled from the cream of European talent, has the ambition of lifting the trophy for the first time - and follow Arsenal's achievement of 2007.

Hayes was part of the coaching set-up at the Gunners back then, and is itching to see her Blues take on Barca in Gothenburg for the chance to replicate the feat.

"I really respect Barcelona but I cannot wait to play them," said Hayes.

"It's our time and there's so many players in that dressing room that can win the football match for us - we've seen it in recent weeks - the amount of players that have popped up all over the pitch to determine the outcome.

"Have we got better every week, even when we're not at our best? Yeah. When we're not at our best we've still got it.

"The amount of times people say, 'your team played so well' and I was thinking, 'no we didn't' but we won. And that's a special thing to have."

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Barcelona's race to the final began in goal frenzy fashion, with a thumping victory over Slovenia's Pomujre - 8-2 on aggregate - and a 9-0 two-leg success over Denmark's Fortuna Hjorring.

Women's Super League runners-up Manchester City had progressed having dumped Fiorentina out 8-0 over two-legs, but had no answer to the free-flowing Barca attack in the 3-0 first-leg success. They won 2-1 in the return game in Manchester but it was not enough to stop Lluis Cortes' side.

Paris Saint Germain knocked out holders Lyon in the quarter-finals but were overcome by the Spanish champions in the semis, after two second-leg goals from Netherlands forward Lieke Martens sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.

With Covid-19 forcing a rejig of the competition, and the removal of the group stages for the elite clubs, Chelsea's first steps were an 8-0 aggregate win over Portuguese representatives Benfica in the round of 32 two-legged tie.

Spanish side Atletico Madrid were eliminated 3-1 on aggregate in the next round, with Ann-Katrin Berger's two penalty saves in the 2-0 first-leg win proving crucial after Sophie Ingle's dismissal.

Previous year's finalists Wolfburg were emphatically dumped out in the quarters, with former player Pernille Harder scoring in both legs to help Chelsea to a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Bayern Munich made life tough for Chelsea in the semis, winning 2-1 in Bavaria, although Melanie Leupolz's away goal gave them hope. It was a different story back at Kingsmeadow though, as two Fran Kirby goals helped sweep them aside in 4-1 win to book their ticket to Gothenburg.

Barcelona have named an attack-minded side with top scorer Jennifer Hermoso backed up by Lieke Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen.

Barcelona: Panos, Torrejon, Leon, Ouahabi, Hamraoui, Putellas, Guijarro, Bonmati, Graham Hansen, Martens, Hermoso

Subs: Cata, Codina, Serrano, Losada, Caldentey, Crnogorčević, Oshoala, Jana, Bruna

Emma Hayes has kept the same starting XI that thrashed Reading in the Women's Super League last weekend when Chelsea wrapped up the domestic title.

As it's Europe, there's a bumper bench for Hayes to pick from should she need to change it up.

Chelsea: Berger, Charles, Bright, Eriksson, Carter. Leupolz, Ingle, Kirby, Harder, Ji, Kerr

Subs: Musovic, Telford, Blundell, England, Reiten, Fleming, Cuthbert, Spence, Anderssen, Fox, Beever-Jones

First though, let's have a look at the early team news.

Good evening to you all then, where our eyes and ears will be on Gothenburg for this most prestigious of sporting events.

Any tournament which will decide the continent's best deserves to be given a suitable build-up, so that's our aim for the next 57 minutes or so before kick-off.

There are more sub-plots and storylines in this game tonight than your average Sunday night drama series.

Line of Duty eat your heart out.

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They will have dreamt it. As young girls kicking a ball around in the park, in the garden. Even as they paraded the Women's Super League trophy. Through every round of the competition. Now, tonight, they can achieve it.

Chelsea are just an evening's work away from crowning themselves champions of Europe, at the end of a thrilling continental campaign.

Standing in their way are one of football's giants. Barcelona.

Only one English club, Arsenal, have achieved this feat of conquering Europe before. Chelsea can make history tonight with victory to join them.