11 August 2022
Joe Montemurro’s treble winning side last season took a step towards the new campaign with a spectacular pre-season friendly draw in Geneva against Servette, opponents last season in the group stages of the Champions League. Cristiana Girelli proved to already be in fine form with a first-half hat-trick as new arrival Sara Gunnarsdottir was given her debut from kick off. However, the Bianconere let a three-goal advantage slip in the final seconds as the match finished with the teams sharing out eight goals.
GIRELLI & BONFANTINI DOUBLE UP
Cristiana Girelli finished off what Agnese Bonfantini set up as Juventus Women came from behind to run away from their opponents in the first half. Servette took the game to the visitors and opened the scoring in just three minutes, through Padilla. Roberto Aprile was determined not to be beaten a second time early on and provided a fine stop, palming over a dangerous effort.
Then Juventus found their gear. In the 13th minute, Bonfantini’s pace wreaked havoc in the Swiss defence. The winger was chopped down and Girelli fired home from the spot. Five minutes later the script was repeated. Again Bonfantini was fouled in the area, again Girelli converted the penalty. The Juve number 10 completed her hat-trick before the half time whistle, when she found the back of the net with still 10 minutes of the first half to play. Before Girelli’s third, however, Arianna Caruso had tucked away Juve’s third on 22’ when she beat the offside trap to finish coolly.
Juve went into the break 4-1 to the good.
The second half saw Montemurro make three changes immediately. The coach would eventually change all but two players and the make-over saw the team lose their control of the match. Julia Grosso came close to extending the lead to four goals but the midfielder’s effort after cutting in from the byeline was well saved.
Servette pulled themselves back into the game on 57 minutes when 21-year-old Camilla Forcinella was beaten for the first time on her debut. The team from Geneva reduced the arrears further with their third goal of the match with just over a quarter of an hour to play. Forcinella then produced a fine save two minutes later to deny Berti but there was nothing the young keeper could do when Servette forced home the equaliser in the last minute of normal time.
A whirlwind encounter that pleased the fans but that will leave Montemurro demanding that Juve repeat their first half performance when competitive football starts next week with Champions League qualifying at Vinovo.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
JOE MONTEMURRO
"This was an important test. We are in pre-season, so it was useful to start putting into practice what we are working on. We have to work on the level of the team and find the right balance for next week. We must have a good week and come into the Champions League game in the right way, continuing to put our football into practice."
CRISTIANA GIRELLI
"This is the first game of the season, after the shock at the start we recovered well, play our game, putting into practice what we have been doing in recent days, trying new things. We'll continue to work, we have a fundamental week ahead of us, we will have to work on the details. This match was very useful to put fuel in the legs. I'm happy to have started playing again."
