26 September 2024
Juventus Women's First team enjoyed another perfect evening and managed to complete the task that began last week, beating PSG 2-1 in Paris - a result that, added to the 3-1 first leg win in Biella, sees the Bianconere progress group stage of the UEFA Women's Champions League, ousting last season's semi-finalists and reigning champions of France from the competition, and thus continuing on our European journey.
Let's remind ourselves of the highlights of tonight's victory over PSG.
THE MATCH REPORT
The away match on French soil began in the best possible way: as after just 65 seconds the first opportunity fell to Chiara Beccari, who forced the opponent's goalkeeper to push the ball over the crossbar and behind for a corner kick. The Juventus opener came from the resulting corner as Sofia Cantore was quickest to react and put the ball in the back of the net to score her sixth goal in the last six matches and increase Juventus’ aggregate advantage to 4-1.
Coach Massimiliano Canzi's side continued to control possession in the game, also taking of lapses in concentration at the back by PSG and after fifteen minutes Juventus had had a few efforts from distance. On the 20th minute, another double chance fell for Juventus Women - who dominated the first half: first Cantore did well on the right wing to put the PSG defence on the back foot, and then from the resulting corner another chance came the way of Valentina Bergamaschi.
The French side turned it up a notch at the end of the first half, but Juventus Women's defence managed to stand strong without allowing many chances: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was not called upon to make any saves and so at half-time the Bianconere were ahead 1-0.
There was no shortage of excitement in the second half, with Cantore being replaced at half time by Amalie Vangsgaard. The Parisians fight back began on the 52nd minute, with Martina Lenzini fouling Marie-Antoinette Katoto in the penalty area: Romee Leuchter made no mistake from the spot, but PSG's goal did not change the Bianconere's approach. So much so that less than 60 seconds later, on the 54th minute, Bergamaschi struck a shot from a tight angle that hit the inside of the PSG post before rebounding out.
Juventus Women continued to try and deal with French fightback, and at the turn of the hour it was again PSG who again threatened via a long-distance strike from Korbin Albert that hit the crossbar, but fortunately for the Bianconere the score remained 1-1.
On the 66th minute, Jennifer Echegini’s effort on goal was denied by an excellent right-handed reflex save from Peyraud-Magnin , who then did well to deal with a dangerous corner kick moments later.
Barbara Bonansea came off the bench for Juventus Women and immeditaley made an impact on the 72nd minute as she guided home her effort at the front post from a corner kick to restore the Bianconere’s lead.
A goal that somewhat extinguished PSG’s hopes of a comeback, who were no longer able to pose much of a threat in the last twenty minutes of the match.
A 2-1 victory that sees Juventus Women progress to the group stage of the UEFA Women's Champions League, beating a tough opponent and continuing on their European journey.
COACH MASSIMILIANO CANZI’S COMMENTS
“I have at my disposal a group of girls with such experience and intelligence that there was no need to explain how important it was to concentrate on the challenge at hand and that it was not over after the first leg victory. If we had arrived in Paris thinking we had already qualified, it would have been a catastrophe: instead things went well. I was expecting a lot of pressure from them in the first few minutes but instead it was us applying pressure and it went better than I imagined. To speak only of the approach though would be reductive: we played a perfect second leg.
I honestly don’t know how far we can go in this competition, but I can say that we don't see this group stage qualification as the end goal, but this must be and will be a starting point: this victory gives us the awareness that we can play against anyone and now we have to enjoy ourselves, regardless of the opponent. I had asked the girls to play one good game and one perfect one, they were able to play two perfect ones and PSG struggled mainly because of us: we closed down all their sources of play, attacking for over 90 minutes, showing great physical condition, as well as excellent team spirit.
Defensively we have worked a lot: we had a couple of games in which we struggled in that area (including one in a friendly, which in some ways counted less), but in general we must also take into account the strength of the opponents. In truth we are an attacking team, because these are the characteristics of our players, but we have worked a lot in our own half: there will be times when we will concede goals and our attention will always be on improving that too, but I have never been particularly worried about this aspect.”
BARBARA BONANSEA’S THOUGHTS
"As soon as I scored I started to count and I said to myself, ‘How many goals do they have to score to knock us out?’ but I couldn't do it because I didn't understand anything. I came in at a delicate moment in the tie, but that's ok because we were facing one of the best teams in Europe - it was normal to suffer. Scoring a goal at that moment was fundamental to changing the type of challenge: it gave us a morale boost and also some breathing room at a time when we were tired. We of the old guard have black and white hearts: when it matters most, we always try to bring out our best and we try to transmit these values to the others. That's why we are even happier with this victory. It's a very important goal, I'm very happy, but every goal that helps the team is important."
PSG 1-2 JUVENTUS WOMEN
Aggregate: PSG 2-5 Juventus Women
UEFA Women Champions League – 2 Round- 2nd leg
Campus Du Paris Saint Germain (Poissy), Thursday 26 September, 2024 at 18:45 (CEST)
Goals: 3’ Cantore (J), 54’ (Pen) Leuchter (P), 72’ Bonansea (J)
PSG: Earps, Samoura (37’ Echegini), Mbock Bathy, Dudek, Le Guilly (46’ De Almeida), Gaetino, Karchaoui (74’ Fazer), Elimbi Gilbert (46’ Leuchter), Geyoro, Katoto, Albert (83’ Traore).
Unused Substitutes: Kiedrzynek, Groenen, Hurtre, Toussaint Dit Marseille, Imarazene, Graziani.
Coach: Fabrice Abriel.
Juventus: Peyraud Magnin, Cascarino (69’ Kullberg), Calligaris (78’ Gama), Lenzini, Krumbiegel, Caruso, Bennison, Bergamaschi, Cantore (46’ Vangsgaard) , Girelli (69’ Bonansea), Beccari ( 82’ Rosucci).
Unused Substitutes: Gama, Schatzer, Lehmann, Bragonzi, Thomas, Pelgander, Capelletti, Proulx.
Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.
Referee: Frida Klarlund
Assistants: Fie Bruun, Monica Lokkeberg
Fourth Official: Nanna Lof Andersen
Bookings: 26’ Gaetino (P), 46’ Elimbi Gilbert (P), 26’ Caruso (J), 70’ Kullberg (J), 77’ Echegini (P)
Next Match:
Juventus Women-Fiorentina
Monday, 30 September, 2024 at 18:00 (CEST)
Stadio La Marmora-Pozzo (Biella)
