Serie A round up: Roma beat Inter, Juventus breeze past Sassuolo | OneFootball

Roma and Juventus continued their impressive start to the Serie A season with victories over Inter and Sassuolo respectively. Fiorentina, meanwhile, are still within touching distance of the top two after they claimed a comfortable win over Pomigliano.

Let’s take a detailed look into how the action unfolded on matchday four of the 2023-24 Serie A season.

Napoli 0-2 Sampdoria

Both teams came into the contest with hopes of claiming their first points of the season. In the battle of the two struggling sides, it was Sampdoria who flew out of the blocks. Aurora De Rita was on hand to tap the ball home after Doris Bačić saved from Michela Giordano’s initial effort. Giordano had a goal of her own to celebrate in the 19th minute when she rounded the Napoli goalkeeper and guided the ball into the awaiting net. Although Alice Corelli forced Amanda Tampieri into action in the second period, Napoli were unable to find a cutting edge in the final third, ensuring they fell to a fourth consecutive league defeat. Sampdoria move up to seventh following their first win of the campaign, while Napoli sit at the foot of the Serie A table.

Como 0-0 AC Milan

Milan experienced a frustrating outing in Saturday’s away meeting with Como. Scotland international Christy Grimshaw threatened to open the scoring in the first half, drawing a fine save out of Mária Korenčiová after meeting a corner from the right flank. In truth, clearcut chances were hard to come by, as Como held firm to clinch a positive result against one of the biggest sides in the country. While Milan have just four points to their name, Como are three points better off, having lost only one of their opening four matches.

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Pomigliano 1-4 Fiorentina

Fiorentina spurned the chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when Verónica Boquete sent her penalty harmlessly wide. Undeterred by that miss, the visitors hit the front through Michela Catena, who headed in from a rebound after her initial strike was pushed onto the crossbar by Ana Buhigas. Boquete doubled Fiorentina’s advantage moments before the interval to make amends for her early penalty miss. The 36-year-old turned provider in the second period, laying the ball into the path of Miriam Longo, who slotted into the bottom corner.

Pauline Hammarlund added a fourth in the 78th minute, before Pomigliano’s Dalila Ippolito netted a late consolation from the penalty spot. While the hosts are still waiting for their first win of the season, the victory extends Fiorentina’s unbeaten start to the campaign.

Juventus 4-0 Sassuolo

Juventus maintained their 100% start to the season with a dominant display against Sassuolo. Lineth Beerensteyn opened the scoring in the sixth minute, before Cristiana Girelli headed home from Barbara Bonansea’s cross to put the home side in the driving seat. Beerensteyn added a third 10 minutes before the break when she cut inside onto her right foot and drove a low strike past Solene Durand. There was still time for Juventus to net a fourth before half time after Maelle Garbino chased down Durand’s clearance, causing the ball to ricochet into the net. Matters got worse for the visitors in the second period when Erika Santoro was shown a straight red card for pulling back Beerensteyn as the last defender. The hosts coasted through the remainder of the contest and will now turn their attention to a tricky fixture against Fiorentina next weekend.

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Roma 2-0 Internazionale

Fresh from claiming a 3-0 first-leg victory against Vorskla Poltava in Champions League qualifying, Roma made an authoritative start to proceedings at Stadio Tre Fontane. Their early dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute when Giada Greggi arrived on the scene to thump home from Emilie Haavi’s inviting cross. Valentina Giacinti led Roma’s quest for a second, with the Italy international firing over the crossbar, before she stung the palms of Sara Cetinja. The Serbian goalkeeper made a fine stop after the interval to keep out Manuela Giugliano’s goalbound free-kick. Saki Kumagai, who has scored two goals this term, went close to adding to her tally, but she could only guide her header against the woodwork.

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Following a number of promising chances, Roma finally doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Lisa Alborghetti inadvertently diverted Evelyne Viens’ cross into her own net. Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela made a superb reaction save late on to ensure Roma recorded a third consecutive clean sheet in all competitions. The Serie A champions will be back in action on Wednesday, as they look to extend their sizable lead over Vorskla Poltava and seal their place in the UWCL group stage.

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