Juventus Women edged out by Arsenal in UWCL | OneFootball

Juventus Women were defeated for the first time in this season’s Champions League as they lost narrowly to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The 1-0 setback sees the Bianconere slip out of the top two but with two matches to play, and six points available, there is still a lot of football to be played.

THE MATCH

Juventus seemed anything but overawed by their surroundings in the opening minutes as they created the first chance of the match on five minutes. Arianna Caruso picked out Barbara Bonansea on the overlap. The winger intelligently delayed her cross, cutting the ball back for Caruso, whose shot was blocked. The rebound fell to Cristiana Girelli, who smashed her volley over the crossbar.

Arsenal responded to the early fright however and took a grip of proceedings. On nine minutes, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin sprinted off her line as Caitlin Foord chased down a through-ball. The Juve keeper was first to the ball, winning the sliding challenge.

The ball in behind the defence was working for the hosts, who thought they had found the net in 12’, but Stina Blackstenius was in an offside position when she received the pass before slotting home.

The same forward delivered the cross that led to the only goal of the first half four minutes later. On the receiving end was Vivianne Miedema, who crashed the ball into the net after the cross had cut out the Juve defence. For the Netherlands international it was her second goal against Juve in the head-to-heads, her third in as many matches in all competitions.

The Gunners continued to see a lot of the ball but although the home side did not create further clear cut chances they were denying Juventus possession.

At the start of the second half, Juventus displayed the same aggression that they had shown in the first half. Eventually putting Arsenal on the back foot, pinning them inside their own half, the Bianconere were moving the ball quickly but found it difficult to break down the hosts’ defence.

Arsenal, sitting deeply, were absorbing Juventus pressure, while the Bianconere were unable to create any chances in front of Manuela Zinsberger’s goal. Grosso had a shot from distance which was comfortably dealt with by the home keeper.

In stoppage time, Juventus had a couple of opportunities. The first fell to Lisa Boattin. Although outside the penalty area, it was within range for the full back, but her shot sailed over the bar.

Then the final opportunity. Martina Lenzini was fouled outside the area. Valentina Cernoia stepped up and went directly for goal - her shot ended on the roof of the net and Juventus left the Emirates Stadium empty handed.

ARSENAL 1-0 JUVENTUS  (HT: 1-0)

SCORER: 16′ Miedema (A).

ARSENAL: Zinsberger; Wienroither (79′ Maritz), Wubben-Moy, Catley, McCabe; Maanum, Walti; Nobbs (65′ Beattie), Miedema, Foord; Miedema. Subs not used: Marckese, Maritz, Iwabuchi, Agyemang. Coach: Eidevall.

JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Sembrant, Salvai, Boattin; Caruso (65′ Cantore), Pedersen (79′ Gunnarsdottir), Grosso; Bonansea (46′ Cernoia), Girelli (89′ Bonfantini), Beerensteyn. Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Rosucci, Lundorf, Zamanian, Schatzer, Duljan. Coach: Montemurro.

Referee: Martinčić.