WOMEN, FIORENTINA V AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan's first half of the season ended with a draw against Como, and the return leg offers the Rossonere an immediate opportunity for redemption. Saturday's match in Florence will be a high-stakes affair between two teams who have picked up just one point in their last two games and need a win to move up the table. In our Match Preview we present the most interesting aspects of the match.

AT THE PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
Ganz's girls were unable to replicate the performance in the win against Juventus and in the last two matches, played against teams from the lower half of the table, they have picked up just one point. AC Milan have also suffered in the big games this season, having lost three of their four league matches against teams currently in the top half of the table. The first of those defeats came in the first fixture with Fiorentina (3-1 loss) and the Rossonere are now more determined than ever to get their revenge. Kosovare Asllani, who scored her first goal in Serie A against the Viola, and Lindsey Thomas, fresh from her first goals of the season, will try to penetrate one of the league's tightest defences. In support of the forwards, Kamila Dubcová, the Czech player who has found her favoured victim in Fiorentina, will try to find her best form: four goals for her, all scored in the Tuscan capital. 

Here is Ganz's squad: Babb, Fedele, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Carage, Fusetti, Guagni, Mesjasz, Semplici, Soffia, Thrige; K. Dubcová, Grimshaw, Mascarello, Renzotti, Vigilucci; Asllani, Bergamaschi, M. Dubcová, Piemonte, Thomas.

"We've worked a lot on our approach to the game this week. We know it's a must-win game and can't slip up any more," said Laura Giuliani towards the game with Fiorentina. "Our strengths are our group togetherness and the pace at which we manoeuvre the ball around; only by working on these will we be able to overcome our weaknesses."

AT FIORENTINA
Fiorentina boast the second best defence in the league, having conceded just eight goals in the entire first half of the season, a statistic that helps to explain how Coach Panico's girls currently sit third in the table. The Tuscans, however, have not scored in their last two Serie A matches in which they lost 2-0 to Juventus and drew 0-0 with Inter, ending up losing precious ground to the top two. The Viola remain a formidable opponent to face in Florence, considering they haven't lost at home this season and are unbeaten in six consecutive home games. Zsanett Kaján and Milica Mijatovic, who scored the three goals that decided the first match last 28 August, are the team's top scorers with five and four goals respectively, a haul that represents a large proportion of Fiorentina's 13 goals.

"The first game has been put away. AC Milan have lots of good individuals and who can beat anyone on their day; they'll be coming to Florence knowing that they can win every game," said Coach Panico on the eve of the match. "In this second half of the season, we need to raise the bar after a great first part of the campaign, and everyone has to give 100% against AC Milan. Our fans in attendance is an extra advantage."

PRE-MATCH
There have been eight Serie A meetings between Fiorentina and AC Milan: the Viola have recorded four wins against the Rossonere's three. The only draw between these two sides in the top flight came in the only previous one played in November: 1-1 in 2019, at the home of the Viola. Looking at the most recent clashes, the balance is level: Fiorentina have won two of their last four matches, when they had collected just one win in their first four (1 draw, 2 losses). Saturday's match, moreover, will see many former players of both teams take the field: on the Viola's side, in fact, Laura Agard, Miriam Longo, Veró Boquete, Daniela Sabatino and Francesca Vitale are among the players with a past as Rossonere; among Ganz's girls, on the other hand, Greta Adami, Martina Piemonte, Alia Guagni and Marta Mascarello are former Fiorentina players. 

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
Fiorentina v ACMilan will be broadcast, from 14.30 CET, on TimVision and on Milan TV. Don't miss coverage of the match on acmilan.com, the Rossoneri's social media channels and on the AC Milan Official App where, from the next day, the full deferred broadcast will be available - on demand.

SERIE A FEMMINILE TIM
Referee Maria Marotta, from Sapri, has been appointed for Fiorentina v AC Milan. Assisting the Piedmontese referee will be assistants Festa (Avellino) and De Vito (Napoli), as well as fourth official Di Benedetto (Novi Ligure). 

Matchday 10 of the Women's Serie A begins on Saturday with a 12:30 CET kick-off for Roma v Pomigliano, followed by Fiorentina v AC Milan. Two matches are scheduled for Sunday: Sampdoria v Sassuolo at 12.30 CET and Juventus v Como at 14.30 CET. The round closes on Monday at 19.00 CET with Parma v Inter.

The current Women's Serie A TIM standings: Roma 24 pts; Juventus 20; Fiorentina 19; Inter 18; AC Milan 13; Sampdoria 10; Pomigliano 7; Como, Sassuolo 6; Parma 4. 

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