THE CAPTAIN IN FINE FORM

Her brace against Napoli secured Coach Ganz’s side their third consecutive win in the league, the best possible result after the international break. And while the Rossonere had to dig in, it was a very important victory. Captain Giacinti started the season slowly, failing to find the net in AC Milan’s first two fixtures against Florentia and San Marino.

However, she’s gone from strength to strength since then, scoring six goals in the Rossonere’s last five games. Only in AC Milan’s 1-0 home defeat to Juventus at San Siro, the team’s only loss this season, was she unable to get on the scoresheet. Often a decisive player, she’s always ready to sacrifice herself for the team. This was clear for all to see during the final minutes of Napoli v AC Milan, when she dropped back and practically became an extra midfielder to help her team, who had been reduced to ten players, see the game out.

Giacinti is a reflection of this AC Milan side as a whole, and the team remain hot on the heels of Juventus, who continue to pick up results, even at the most difficult grounds. The Rossonere captain has been well supported by teammate Natasha Dowie, who is an experienced presence up front and has found the net five times in the first seven matches. Together, they’ve scored eleven goals so far, making them a formidable pairing.

As the Rossonere wait for their next league fixture against Roma at Vismara (14:30 CET on Sunday 15 November), Ganz can take delight in having an attacking line that is working well, a captain that is in rich goalscoring form and a defence that has conceded just four goals in the first seven matches. Valentina also managed to find the net in Italy Women’s defeat to Denmark, returning to the scoresheet for her country for the first time since 29 August 2019 (Israel 2-3 Italy) in the process. Now that she has the wind in her sails, there’s no stopping her.

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