Jonatan Giraldez provided a positive update on Lucy Bronze after the England defender went off with a knee injury during Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in their Women's Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Right-back Bronze, 31, limped off in the second half to deal Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman a fresh scare with both Beth Mead and Leah Williamson set to miss the World Cup due to ACL injuries. 

But Barca boss Giraldez said: "She felt something in her knee. But right now she's fine. 

"At the moment we made the substitution, the feeling was bad but right now the feeling she has is good."

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was impressed by Barca and admitted her side expected to suffer against them. 

The Blues fell behind to Caroline Graham Hansen's spectacular fourth-minute effort and struggled to muster any attacking threat.

Hayes said: "We had a disappointing start. You have to be perfect to beat these guys — they're amazing. 

"We have to be better on the ball but it's 1-0 and I'm grateful to be in the position where the tie wasn't over in 25 minutes.

"The whole team is phenomenal so you have to suffer. You're going to be without the ball. 

"One switch off, one positional error for us and it cost us the goal."

Chelsea's Ann-Katrin Berger was the busier of the keepers as six shots on target came her way, with Marta Torrejon's header hitting a post. 

But Hayes, 46, took pride from a rugged defensive display.

She added: "We limited them to as few chances as we could and I'll take that going into the second leg. 

"I wanted to be in the tie going into Thursday and we're in the tie. 

"The team defended as well as we could — they executed everything we'd asked. The back three can be very proud."

Besides Guro Reiten's disallowed first-half strike, chances were hard to come by for the hosts. 

Hayes said: "We had a very deliberate plan to go forward and I don't think we did that very well. 

"We're disappointed but we'll work on it."