19 October 2022
Juventus Women played a game of patience to collect all three points in the opening match of the Champions League group stage.
Second half goals from Valentina Cernoia and Barbara Bonansea broke down Zürich 2-0 at the Wefox Arena in Schaffausen thanks to goals from Cernoia and Bonansea.
THE MATCH
The Bianconere opened the match in impressive fashion, pinning back the hosts deep inside their own half, creating two chances inside the first 10 minutes. First Cristiana Girelli met a corner with a back heel flick which went the wrong side of the post. Two minutes later a cross from Valentina Cernoia picked out an unmarked Julia Grosso inside the six-yard box, but the midfielder placed her header wide.
The Bianconere regretted not making that early breakthrough as
Zürich’s defensive approach began to close down the space for Juve. Another chance fell to Amanda Nildén, playing wide on the left, from a flick on from Girelli, but the Swede’s shot went wide. The last chance of the opening spell fell to Cernoia, who raced onto a cross-field pass, but the midfielder overran the ball, allowing Lourdes Romero, the Zürich goalkeeper, to intercept.
Goalless at half-time, Juventus needed a spark to find a way through.
The start of the second half immediately saw Juve move at pace. In the 49th minute, Sofie Pedersen brought out a great save from Romero with an angled header, which the goalkeeper tipped wide.
The second period was following the same script as the first, with the home side content to sit deep and defend. Not until inside the final 20 minutes did Juve finally make their possession count.
The first goal of the group stage arrived on 71', when Zürich failed to clear a cross. Girelli picked out Cernoia, whose shot found its way through the crowded area into the net.
With the hosts obliged to push forward, Juve looked for a killer second goal. Agnese Bonfantini crashed a shot off the crossbar on 81', but four minutes later the contest was over, when Bonansea slammed home after a Grosso run had pulled the Zürich defence out of shape.
Three precious points to take back to Turin - just the start the Bianconere were looking for.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
JOE MONTEMURRO
"It was a complicated match due to Zürich's excellent organisation. In the first half, in fact, we encountered more difficulties, but in the second half, once the game was unlocked, we found it more easy to reach their penalty area. The contribution that came from the girls who came on during the match was certainly important. We are in a very intense moment of the season because we have many important matches within a few days. On Saturday, in fact, we've got the away match against Milan in the league and then again the Champions League with the first at the Allianz Stadium against the reigning European champions Lyon, so the contribution of the whole becomes fundamental."
VALENTINA CERNOIA
"We expected a match like this. Zürich are a very well organised team and they proved it again this evening. We also expected to play our game, which we did. I am happy to have brocken the deadlock in a difficult game with that ball that Cristiana set up for me in the penalty area. This is an important victory because it allows us to start a complicated group with the three points. Every success is the result of daily work on the field and after more than a year under the guidance of Mister Montemurro we can say that progress is being seen. We must, however, continue like this, enjoying our improvement, but remaining focused on our objectives."
BARBARA BONANSEA
"I came off the bench with the intention of putting the Zürich defence in difficulty because I noticed that there were spaces to attack and as soon as I set foot on the pitch that was my first thought. Obviously I am very happy with the goal, which actually killed the game off. We've been trying the situation that led to the goal in training because those passes played back are always very dangerous and difficult to read for opposing defences. Julia did really well to reach the byeline for the cross. Tonight I think our performance was that of a mature team, aware of their own means. Clearly, the positive experience last season will serve us as an extra boost this year."
FC ZÜRICH 0-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-0)
SCORERS: 71’ Cernoia (J), 85’ Bonansea (J)
ZÜRICH: Romero; Riesen, Stierli, Vetterlein, Rey; Piubel, Markou, Bernauer; Megroz (70′ Pinther), Humn (82′ Pilgrim), Dubs (58′ Pando). Subs not used: Kaspar, Bollmann, Wos, Enz, Egli, Scharz. Coach: Grings
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Salvai, Sembrant, Boattin; Gunnarsdottir, Pedersen (68′ Caruso), Grosso (89′ Zamanian); Cernoia (79′ Bonansea), Girelli (89′ Cantore), Nilden (68′ Bonfantini). Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Gama, Rosucci, Lundorf, Pfattner, Duljan. Coach: Montemurro.
Referee: Acevedo.
BOOKINGS: 53′ Humn (Z), 95′ Gunnarsdottir (J), 95′ Pinther (Z).
