Girelli double sees off Sassuolo! | OneFootball

Juventus Women beat second-placed Sassuolo to open up a six-point gap at the top of the table and extend their winning run in the league to an incredible 34 games.

Cristiana Girelli bagged both goals – both headers – in the second half as the Bianconere got back into their stride after the international break ahead of next week's Champions League encounter with Chelsea.

Joe Montemurro had to make do without a number of players following their international exertions but still put out a strong line-up with Roberta Aprile in goal, a back four of Hyyrynen, Lenzini, Salvai and Nilden, a midfield quartet of Bonfantini, Pedersen, Zamanian and Bonansea, and Hurtig and Girelli in attack.

The opening spell proved to be a tactical affair with the two defences excelling – Lenzini and Salvai looking particularly impressive for Juve.

The first chances went Sassuolo's way but Benoit and Cantore were unable to get their efforts on target. Down the other end Barbara Bonansea turned on the pace to leave opponents trailing in her wake before shooting wide.

The best chance fell to Girelli midway through the half: Hyyrynen crossed and the Italy striker shot on the spin from the edge of the box, only to see it rattle the post.

The rest of the half and the start of the second were largely void of chances as the two sides neutralised each other's threat. However, as the minutes passed Juve slowly began to crank up the pressure and broke the deadlock with the first real chance of the second period. Nilden's delivery from the left was met by Girelli and she headed home to make it 1-0 shortly before the hour mark.

Sassuolo were in no mood for rolling over though and fashioned a great chance to equalise two minutes later: Parisi let fly from the edge of the box but Aprile was equal to it with a superb save.

That turned out to be the pivotal moment as the Bianconere went on to double their lead on 68 minutes. This time Girelli darted across to the near post to nod in Lisa Boattin's corner

Sassuolo looked to muster a reaction but found themselves up against a resilient backline and a goalkeeper determined to see out the clean sheet: twice in the space of two minutes Aprile was called into action to deny first Filangeri and then Bugeja.

And so it ended 2-0: another victory for Juve and 50 league games unbeaten now – the perfect way to prepare for Wednesday's visit to Chelsea.

Gallery | Sassuolo - Juventus Women

IL TABELLINO

Sassuolo - Juventus 0 - 2 Campionato Nazionale Femminile Serie A. 10° Giornata Girone di Andata. Stadio Comunale “Enzo Ricci” – Piazza Risorgimento, 47 – Sassuolo (MO).

Marcatori: 13’ st Girelli (J); 23’ st Girelli (J)

Sassuolo: Lemey, Parisi (Cap), Benoit (14’ st Bugeja), Mihashi, Dubcova, Cantore, Orsi, Clelland (14’ st Pondini), Santoro, Dongus, Filangeri (40’ st Cambiaghi). A disposizione: Lauria, De Bona, Brignoli, Ferrato, Pellinghelli, Iriguchi. Allenatore: Gianpiero Piovani

Juventus: Aprile, Hyyrynen, Nilden (22’ st Boattin), Girelli (30’ st Staskova), Bonansea (48’ st Pfattner), Pedersen, Hurtig (22’ st Rosucci), Zamanian, Bonfantini, Salvai (Cap), Lenzini (30’ st Lundorf). A disposizione: Peyraud-Magnin, Gama, Giai, Beccari. Allenatore: Joseph Adrian Montemurro

Arbitro: Marco Emmanuele di Pisa (Assistenti: Rosario Caso di Nocera Inferiore, Federico Linari di Firenze - Quarto ufficiale: Giacomo Ravara di Valdarno) Ammonite: 36’ pt Pedersen (J), 37’ pt Parisi (S), 7’ st Benoit (S)

Prossimo impegno: Chelsea - Juventus UEFA Women’s Champions League – Group Stage MD5 Mercoledì 8 dicembre 2021 ore 21:00 CET Kingsmeadow – Kingston (Londra)

Prossimo impegno di campionato:* Juventus - Milan* Campionato Nazionale Femminile Serie A. 11° Giornata Girone di Andata. Domenica 12 dicembre 2021 – ore 15:00 Campo “Ale&Ricky” – Vinovo (TO)