UWCL Confirmed team news Chelsea v Barcelona : Oshoala, Lopez start from bench; Akpan omitted 

The team news are in for Saturday afternoon's eagerly anticipated match between Chelsea and Barcelona in a UEFA Women's Champions League semifinal clash at Stamford Bridge.

As expected, five-time African Women's Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala has not been named in Barcelona's starting lineup. 

Although the Super Falcons star has been named among the substitutes, it remains to be seen whether or not she will be utilized off the bench by manager Jonatan Giráldez considering that she had physical problems before the trip to the English capital. 

Chelsea would be glad to see the former Liverpool and Arsenal striker, who has totaled 24 goals in all competitions this season and who played well against them in the 2021 final, starting on the bench.

Spain U17 sensation  of Nigerian descent Vicky Lopez, winner of the Golden Ball at the 2022 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup, has also been named among the Blaugranes' substitutes. 

The Spanish-Nigerian striker is the youngest player to debut for Barcelona Femeni and is also the youngest player to feature in a Clásico, in both male and female football. 

This is the fifth call-up Lopez has received for a UEFA Women's Champions League match. 

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has omitted Anglo-Polish-Nigerian midfielder Ashanti Akpan from her starting lineup. 

The 17-year-old trained with the first team in their final workout at Cobham Training Center on Friday afternoon. 

Confirmed starting lineups

Chelsea: Berger, Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson (c), Carter, Leupolz, Cuthbert, Charles, Cankovic, Reiten, Kerr.

Subs: Musovic, Orman, Abdullina, Fleming, Ingle, Harder, James, Rytting Kaneryd.

Barcelona: Panos, Bronze, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo, Bonamati, Walsh, Guijarro, Graham Hansen, Geyse, Paralluelo.

Subs: Coll, Codina Panedas, Fernandez, Pina, Crnogorcevic, Torrejon, Caldentey, Vilamala, Oshoala, Rabana, Syrstad Engen, Lopez.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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