Sonia Bompastor's side came out fighting against Barcelona, but the 4-1 defeat suffered in the first leg ultimately proved too much to overturn.

The Spanish side kept hold of the ball well in the first half, limiting our chances, and then took advantage of our desire to try and reduce the deficit, hitting us on the break with three goals in the final 20 minutes of the first half.

Aitana Bonmati took the wind out of Chelsea's sails with her 25th-minute strike, which was followed by two more in quick succession from Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina before half-time.

In the second half, Salma Paralluelo extended Barcelona's lead before Wieke Kaptein added a consolation goal. The Blues now focus on our efforts to win the Women's Super League and the Women's FA Cup, having already secured the League Cup trophy back in March.

Trying to climb the mountain

Bompastor made five changes from the side that won 4-0 over Crystal Palace in midweek, bringing in Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Erin Cuthbert, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Mayra Ramirez.

Chelsea's attempt to press high was clear from the get-go, as Sjoeke Nusken and Cuthbert battled hard to win possession in the final third and feed the ball to striker Ramirez.

After 20 minutes, the Blues had enjoyed some spells of good play, but had not been able to chip into Barcelona's lead with a goal of our own. A shot from Sandy Baltimore was charged down in the area, and some more intense attacking pressure saw Cata Coll save a shot from Nusken with her legs.

Task gets harder

The danger of pushing forward with such intensity was always going to be leaving ourselves vulnerable at the back and, as Bonmati skipped past a Niamh Charles tackle, she smashed her shot high into the net, leaving Hannah Hampton with no chance.

Just before half-time, Chelsea's defence was breached again. Caroline Graham Hansen was able to put in a dangerous cross from the right-hand side, which was slotted home by Pajor. Two minutes later, Barca struck another hammer blow, this time from a Pina solo effort.

In the second half, the Blues came out fighting, as Nusken put an attempt over the bar and Catarina Macario dragged a shot just wide of the post.

Rytting Kaneryd then won a corner when she forced a save from Coll and the Blues appealed for a handball in the penalty area when Aggie Beever-Jones had a shot blocked low down. Maika Hamano did brilliantly to take the ball down and her lob went just over the bar.

Fighting until the end

Barcelona had chances of their own, and Hampton showed her quality with a string of excellent saves. Inside the final five minutes, Bronze went close at the far post with a header from a corner, and her bravery meant she clashed heads with Barca stopper Coll.

A moment of confusion at the back then allowed Paralluelo to net Barcelona's fourth, then Kaptein gave the Blues faithful something to cheer when she added a consolation goal.

That sparked a frenetic finish, which also saw Hamano go close once again, but the referee blew the final whistle immediately afterwards to end a difficult day for the Blues.

What it means

Sonia Bompastor's side have exited their first competition this season, but will fight for more silverware in domestic action in the WSL and the FA Cup final on 18 May.

What comes next

Chelsea face Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday night, as we edge closer to securing the Women's Super League title.

The teams

Chelsea (4-3-3): Hampton; Charles, Bright (c), Girma (Lawrence h-t), Bronze; Walsh, Nusken, Cuthbert (Macario 61); Baltimore (Kaptein 61), Ramirez (Beever-Jones h-t), Rytting Kaneryd (Hamano 74)
Unused subs: Spencer, Cox, Jean-Francois, Mpome, Reiten, Brown
Scorer: Kaptein 90+1

Barcelona (4-3-3): Coll, Paredes (Fernandez 62), Leon (Engen h-t), Pina (Brugts 62), Hansen (Paralluelo 62), Putellas, Guijarro, Bonmati, Rolfo, Pajor (Lopez 76), Batlle
Unused subs: Font, Roebuck, Torrejon, Cano, Schertenleib
Scorers: Bonmati 25, Pajor 41, Pina 43, Paralluelo 90

Referee: Tess Olofsson