13 January 2024
Juventus Women’s first home match of 2024 ended perfectly, with Joe Montemurro’s Bianconere claiming a 2-1 win over AC Milan on Matchday 12 of this Serie A season.
The outcome of this game was by no means a foregone conclusion, and the Bianconere didn’t underestimate Milan’s ability to cause them problems in Biella as they returned to league action after having beaten Roma in the Super Cup last weekend.
Formation choices
Without Lineth Beerensteyn to call upon, Montemurro went with an attacking lineup that had Barbara Bonansea, Lindsey Thomas, Maelle Garbino and Sofia Cantore all start, with Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir and Arianna Caruso behind.
At the back, Cecilia Salvai returned to the XI.
Those selection choices looked to be working early on for Juventus, with Caruso getting her first sight at goal inside a minute, but Milan were looking dangerous when they ventured forward as well.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin had to keep Kosovare Asllani out, before Gunnarsdottir went very close but Laura Giuliani reacted well to deny her volleyed effort.
In what was a balanced first half, Juventus took the lead through Bonansea. Another set-piece fell her way in the area and BB swept it home to open the scoring.
But Milan reacted well and Andrea Staskova - formerly of Juventus - levelled things up not long later. And that would be how the scores sat at the break.
The second half
The second half began with a big chance for Staskova, but she dragged her effort wide of Peyraud-Magnin’s goal, and the Bianconere appeared to wake up somewhat after that scare.
Gunnarsdottir headed another corner into the side-netting minutes later, and then Sofia Cantore took the headlines. Getting the ball on the byline and with her back to goal, Sofia moved back towards the edge of the box before firing a sublime strike into the top corner of Giuliani’s goal, giving the Milan goalkeeper no chance of keeping it out.
There was another highlight late on though as Joe Echegini came off the bench to make her Bianconere bow.
What it means
The win puts Juventus on 30 points, still second in the table behind leaders Roma.
But what’s more is that it shows the strength of the group, and the togetherness that remains. With the Super Cup bagged and a first home win of the year under their belts, the girls will look to build on that in the coming weeks.
Onwards, Bianconere!
Joe Montemurro’s post-match comments
“Today was a very tough game, and congratulations to Milan are in order. We have to know how to suffer and resist and to understand the different periods of games, but of course we hope that we don’t have to suffer too much every week.
“We’re only thinking about ourselves, game after game, and putting into practice everything we do in training. The team is finding its rhythm, and if we play with calm we can get results.”
Barbara Bonansea’s words after Milan
“We’re very happy with the win. Honestly, it wasn’t our best game but we got the points and it’s just as satisfying. Last year, in a game like this, we wouldn’t have taken the points home and that’s definitely a positive sign because it means we’re able to be compact and that the group help one another in the more difficult moments.
“The Super Cup win gave us momentum, which was all the more important after ending 2023 on a sour note with the loss to Sampdoria. But we learned there that we can’t let our focus slip, we have to be switched on at all times and on the ball.
Sofia Cantore speaks after Milan
“I spent the last week with mixed feelings: on the one hand I was delighted to have won the Super Cup, but then I was also disappointed with the chance I missed in that game because it had been a while since I managed to score.
“But there’s a different air in the dressing room this year and we’re all a little more aware of what we can do. I think this affected us positively today, on a team and individual level.
“I’ve wanted to be more incisive, with scoring goals too, so I’m delighted that I managed to do that today.”
Juventus Women 2-1 AC Milan
Serie A regular season - Matchday 12
Stadio La Marmora-Pozzo
Goals: 25’ Bonansea (J), 31’ Staskova (M), 51’ Cantore (J)
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Salvai (C), Cascarino, Boattin, Caruso, Gunnarsdottir, Garbino (87’ Echegini), Cantore, Thomas (73’ Girelli), Bonansea.
Unused subs: Aprile, Gama, Cafferata, Grosso, Bragonzi, Bellucci, Sliskovic.
Coach: Joseph Montemurro.
Milan: Giuliani, Cernoia, Bergamaschi (Cap), Asllani, Grimsaw, Swaby, Vigilucci (83’ Rubio Avila), Staskova (63’ Dompig), Piga, Laurent, Guagni.
Unused subs: Fusetti, Dubcova, Mascarello, Soffia, Arrigoni, Babb, Marinelli.
Coach: Davide Corti.
Referee: Maccarini Lorenzo
Assistants: Giuggioli Lorenzo - Toce Marco
Fourth Official: Romeo Mattia
Cards: 61’ Cernoia (M), 76’ Laurent (M), 78’ Lenzini (J)
