Juventus Women claimed a big win as they returned to Serie A action in Biella, putting four goals past Sassuolo without response, and each of them coming in a breathtaking first half.
The game
From the very first whistle, Juventus were on top and they got themselves ahead early. It was in the sixth minute that Lineth Beerensteyn raced through on Solene Durand's goal and, just as she had done against Chievo Verona in midweek, stayed calm and finished perfectly.
The second goal came about a quarter of an hour later, and it was a familiar combination that we've grown so used to seeing in attack. Barbara Bonansea, from the right, found Cristiana Girelli in the box and she made no mistake in putting away the chance, which was only the Bianconere's second real opening of the game, to earn a two-goal cushion.
Durand did well to deny Girelli from a free-kick a little later, and then the third came when Maelle Garbino put Beerensteyn away again, and the outcome was the same as it had been earlier, with Liney firing past Durand in the Sassuolo goal. She was unstoppable, and the Emilian side could not live with her.
The half ended on a high when Garbino got herself on the scoresheet, even without actually shooting. Durand hesitated in possession, and right on her goalline, and Garbino's pressing got her close enough to her compatriot that the attempted clearance bounced off Maelle and into the net.
Although the second half slowed down, Beerensteyn came close to her hat-trick only to be denied by a fine save from Durand from close range, and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin had to be alert at the other end to make a couple of good saves to keep former teammate Annahita Zamanian out.
Sassuolo would end the game a player down after Erika Santoro, finding herself on the wrong side of Beerensteyn, decided to pull the flying winger down to prevent her from going through on goal.
And so it ended 4-0, allowing the Bianconere to claim three important and convincing points to continue their 100% start to the season. Now, all eyes are on Florence next week!
Juventus Women 4-0 Sassuolo
Goalscorers: Beerensteyn 6', Girelli 21', Beerensteyn 35', Garbino 45'.
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Boattin, Lenzini, Cascarino (63' Salvai), Nilden, Caruso (78' Nystrom), Grosso, Bonansea (C) (63' Gunnarsdottir), Garbino (78' Palis), Girelli (78' Thomas), Beerensteyn. Unused subs: Aprile, Gama, Toniolo, Bellucci.
Coach: Joseph Montemurro
Sassuolo: Durand, Philtjens, Pleidrup, Passeri (60' Brignoli) Santoro, Pondini (75' Brustia), Sabatino (60' Kullashi), Missipo, Monterubbiano (75' Sciabica), Filangeri (C), Zamanian (68' Mella). Unused subs: Lonni, Prugna, Tudisco, Nagy.
Coach: Gianpiero Piovani