Putellas returns to Barca squad ahead of Chelsea clash with Bronze out

Alexia Putellas is in Barcelona's squad for the first time all season for the second leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, with Lucy Bronze out following knee surgery.

Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas has not played since picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in July 2022.

Home fans will be hoping her return on Thursday can help Barcelona complete the job they started by winning the first leg 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week.

The midfielder had been seen in open training at the Camp Nou before the official announcement, after which she was declared fit to play.

As a result of last year's ACL injury, Putellas was unable to contribute to her country's run in Euro 2021, delayed for a year after the Covid pandemic, which saw Spain lose to England in the quarter-finals.

But her club have not suffered so much without her, sitting 10 points clear at the top of the Primera Division, and cruising in the Champions League so far this season.

One fresh setback, however, for the Catalan club is the absence through injury of England's Lucy Bronze, who was seen hobbling off the pitch in the first Chelsea clash.

England's right-back had keyhole surgery on her knee following the injury, but is expected to be back within a month.

The semi-final second leg is on Thursday night, with the winner facing either Arsenal or Wolfsburg in the final in June.