Bianconere go five from five with win at Sampdoria

The Juventus Women’s First Team maintained their perfect start to the Serie A season with a 2-0 away win against a stubborn Sampdoria, thanks to a brace of headers from Cristiana Girelli.

Those three hard-earned points leave the Bianconere top of the table after Matchday 5, with a perfect 100% record still in tact and ahead of next week’s showdown fixture with Roma - who sit six points behind - at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday, 13 October..

THE MATCH

The first half started with difficulty for the Bianconere, as Sampdoria set up stubbornly and defended well. The Blucerchiate packed a number of players behind the ball making it tough to find any space in or around their box, and chances were few and far between.

It was always likely to take a moment of perfection to find the breakthrough, and instead it took two. Getting to the byline Alisha Lehmann planted a pinpoint cross onto the head of Cristiana Girelli, and our No.10 did what she had done so many times before by nodding into the top corner of Roberta Aprile’s goal.

Taking a one-goal lead in at half time, the Bianconere came out for the second looking to add to their tally, and it came through that same source again. This time, though, it was Eva Schatzer who turned provider, with her corner finding Girelli at the near post for a different kind - but just as effective - header that beat Aprile for a second time to widen the margin between the sides to two goals.

Then, Samp had to open up a bit and there was space to get into. First, Lehmann was able to drive through the hosts’ half and get in on goal, but her near-post effort went wide. Shortly after, Amalie Vangsgaard found herself in a similar position, on the other side of goal, but she dragged wide at the near post as well.

From there coach Massimiliano Canzi continued to make changes, and the most noteworthy of those came as 18-year-old Azzurra Gallo came on for her Serie A debut.

Now, before Roma, focus is firmly fixed on the opening game of the Women’s Champions League group stage away against Valerenga in Norway on Wednesday.

COACH MASSIMILIANO CANZI’S POST-MATCH COMMENTS

“Today the result was more important than the performance, and we knew that it was going to be tough. Sampdoria never changed their attitude, no matter the score, and it was a game that remained in the balance until we got our second. After that, we started to find space and chances that we couldn’t make the most of. We lost a few too many loose balls and were at risk of conceding.

“Today, [Martina] Rosucci played again, [Elsa] Pelgander had the chance to come on and [Azzurra] Gallo was able to make her debut as a youth-team player, which is a huge source of pride for the whole club because of the work we put in that deserves attention and respect.”

LYSIANNE PROULX'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS

“It was great [to make my debut]. It’s great to train with these girls every day but it was even more special to play with them. So it was very special to make my Serie A debut and for it to end with three points and a clean sheet - I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

“It was a good game, it was difficult to find space at times but we knew and expected that. Defensively we were solid and the girls were great.

“It’s always been a dream of mine since I was a child to be in the Champions League, so to have qualified and to be there is incredible. I never would’ve thought as a kid in Montreal that I’d do it. I’m not the first from Montreal to be in the Champions League and hopefully not the last, but I’m really excited and looking forward to it.”

SAMPDORIA 0-2 JUVENTUS WOMEN

Goals: 37’ Girelli (J), 49' Girelli (J).

Sampdoria: Aprile, Benoit, Della Peruta, Zamanian (65' Baldi), Heroum (74' Pellegrino Cimo), Tucceri Cimini (65' Nano), Re, Pisani, Bertucci (85' Bison), Fallico (65' Cinotti), Cafferata.
Unused subs: Tampieri, Panzeri, Arcangeli, Bercelli, Burbassi, Zilli.
Coach: Davide Corti.

Juventus: Proulx, Kullberg, Calligaris, Cascarino, Thomas, Bennison (85' Bennison), Schatzer, Bonansea (85' Gallo), Lehmann (77' Rosucci), Girelli (59' Vangsgaard), Beccari (59' Cantore).
Unused subs: Peuraud-Magnin, Bragonzi, Caruso, Bergamaschi, Capelletti, Ferraresi, Lenzini.
Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.

Referee: Davide Gandino.
Assistants: Edoardo Maria Brunetti, Alessandro Cassano.
Fourth official: Giuseppe Merlino.

Bookings: 71' Pisani (S), 76' Schatzer (J), 79' Rosucci (J).

Next match:

UEFA Women Champions League, Group stage, MD 1
Valerenga - Juventus at 21.00 CEST
Valerenga Stadion, Oslo (Norway)