Juventus Women Edge Roma 4-3 in Thrilling Serie A Opener

BIELLA, Italy — Juventus Women opened their Serie A Poule Scudetto campaign with a thrilling 4-3 victory over AS Roma at the Pozzo-La Marmora Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The match, marked by a rapid exchange of goals, was highlighted by a hat-trick from Juventus forward Cristiana Girelli.

The game commenced shortly after 15:30 CET and started with both teams aggressively vying for control. Emma Kullberg nearly put Juve ahead early, but her header from a corner fell short. Roma’s Manuela Giugliano also came close, hitting the crossbar within the first ten minutes.

Juventus drew first blood in the 19th minute when Mathilde Harviken found the net with a powerful shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. However, the lead proved short-lived as Roma struck back, equalizing through Moeka Minami just three minutes later. Emilie Haavi then gave the Giallorossi the lead with a goal of her own, hitting the back of the net in the 24th minute.

In an explosive sequence, Girelli equalized for Juventus only two minutes later, finishing with precision to end the first half at 2-2. The first half was described by Juventus coach Massimiliano Canzi as a demonstration of ‘great desire and intensity.’ He noted that the team’s physical preparation paid off despite conceding two goals from set pieces.

As the second half unfolded, Girelli quickly added to her tally, scoring her second goal in the 55th minute following a well-timed pass from Martina Lenzini. Just two minutes later, Evelyne Viens leveled the score at 3-3 for Roma, maintaining an intense back-and-forth dynamic that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The decisive moment came in the 60th minute when Girelli completed her hat-trick with a spectacular back-heeled volley, propelling Juventus ahead 4-3. Goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin made several crucial saves in the closing minutes, thwarting Roma’s attempts to equalize again.

“It was an important match, but we have seven more to play like this,” Girelli said post-match. “I dedicate this hat-trick to us, to all who have believed in me this season.”

Canzi echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of gradual improvement throughout the season. “We have to improve on managing the momentum of the match,” he said. “The spirit of sacrifice was evident today; our players showed great attitude.”

This high-stakes match was more than just a thrilling opener; it set the tone for Juventus Women’s aspirations in the current Liga season as they aim for success in the coming weeks, according to Girelli.

Next, Juventus will face Fiorentina in the Women’s Coppa Italia semi-finals on March 6.