25 November 2018
Sunday’s 2-0 win over Fiorentina will feel twice as significant to Juventus Women. Beating La Viola on their own patch will represent revenge for the Italian Super Cup defeat but also a significant result in the team’s push towards a possible league title. The three points keep the Bianconere on the heels of league-leaders Milan, while creating a bit of daylight between themselves and Sunday’s opponents.
It was a toughly-fought match from the outset but one that Juventus controlled with admirable character and which was ultimately decided by Cristiana Girelli, who gave the away side a first-half lead, and Barbara Bonansea’s strike after the interval. The ladies’ next clash will be on Saturday 1 December at 14:30 CET, when they will welcome Sassuolo and hope to keep up the pressure on Milan.
the match
A clash between the league’s second and third-placed teams in Florence was bound to be a competitive one, particularly with precious points in the Scudetto chase up for grabs, and so it proved.
However, Juventus Women had the bit between their teeth from the off and were in front before the 10-minute mark, as Girelli diverted the ball home following a corner. The home side may well have drawn themselves level before the break, but Laura Giuliani produced an important save to deny Alia Guagni’s near-post effort.
The pace and competitiveness of the match did not let up in the second period. Every ball was toughly contested in midfield and there was a fair share of goal-mouth action at either end of the pitch. Giuliani was called into action to deny Ilaria Mauro, with the striker having been played through on goal. It was a spurned chance that would haunt the home side as, with 65 minutes played, Barbara Bonansea escaped in behind the Fiorentina defence and finished clinically to double her side’s lead and bag her seventh goal of the campaign.
Arianna Caruso went close to making it 3-0 to the visitors soon after, meanwhile at the other end Sara Gama and her defensive colleagues did well to thwart any threat of a Fiorentina fight-back.
post-match comments
Speaking after the game, captain Sara Gama said: “This is a victory that shows character - it's what Juventus is about. It was important to win here, including for the fans that turned out. This is a very competitive league.”
Coach Rita Guarino added: “We’re very happy with the girls’ display. We needed a performance like this, also in terms of attitude. It was important for us to keep up the chase in the league. Credit to my players.”
