WOMEN, AC MILAN V ROMA: MATCH PREVIEW
Women
AC Milan's women's football season continues, with a high difficulty level: having brilliantly passed the Fiorentina test last weekend, the Rossoneri host the highly-ranked Roma in a big match not to be missed. We approach the kick-off against the Giallorossi with our usual Match Preview.
LATEST FROM PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
The great success in Sesto Fiorentino did not only serve to restore high morale in the Rossoneri women's house: the table, in fact, has been reopened, especially in second spot. The Rossoneri are now five points away from Juventus, engaged in another direct clash against third-placed Inter. For AC Milan, who recover coach Ganz after a disqualification round, there is only Árnadóttir in warning. The game at the PUMA House of Football - the last one in 2022 - will also be an opportunity to support the project "Empowering women and girls through Football", an initiative of Fondazione Milan in favour of girls in Nairobi, Kampala and Calcutta.
This is Coach Ganz's squad for the match: Babb, Fedele, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Carage, Fusetti, Guagni, Mesjasz, Soffia, Thrige; Adami, K. Dubcová, Grimshaw, Mascarello, Vigilucci; Asllani, Bergamaschi, M. Dubcová, Piemonte, Thomas.
"We changed our style of play and adapted quickly. Against Fiorentina we played our best first half of the season and this gives us confidence to pick up points," were the words of Guðný Árnadóttir ahead of Saturday's match. "Roma are a great team, they are top of the table and in order to beat them we have to give one hundred per cent. If we play as we can with our quality, I am sure we will do it."
LATEST FROM ROMA
The Giallorossi women are enjoying an extraordinary season, with only one defeat in all competitions (against Juventus in the league) and an unbeaten run of seven in a row in the league. After a 3-0 win in the Coppa Italia over Arezzo this week, Roma are also undefeated in the Women's Champions League, and after the match in Milan they will play a tough European match against Wolfsburg. Having conceded only three goals (including one in the last six matches) Roma can boast the best defence in the league in a fixture where the tactical challenge between two versatile teams will also be interesting. In the last league round the Giallorosse lined up with the following 3-4-3: Ceasar; Kollmats, Linari, Minami; Serturini, Giugliano, Cinotti, Landström; Lázaro, Haug, Andressa.
"We have to pay a lot of attention to AC Milan, they have a lot of very strong players. They are a team built to be at the top, even though they have had their ups and downs," said Alessandro Spugna on the eve of the match. "They will aim to win it to shorten the points gap, but we want to continue our run. We must try to dominate from the start, as we did in the first leg. Of course the amount of games played does not benefit us, but we will try to push on".
PRE-MATCH
One of the biggest rivalries of the last few years in the Women's Serie A, the meeting between AC Milan and Roma counts nine previous matches in the top division with five Rossoneri victories, three draws and one Giallorossi success, coming in their first match. The two teams, who in recent seasons have also faced each other in the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, are also notable for the high number of former players, with three on each side having played for the other team: Piemonte, Soffia and Thomas for AC Milan; Ceasar, Giacinti and Giugliano for Roma. On one side there will be the best attack of the last eight matchdays - the Rossoneri one, with 23 goals in the period - and the best defence on the other (three goals conceded with just 13 shots on goal conceded).
WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
AC Milan v Roma will be broadcast, starting at 14:30 CEST, on Timvision and Milan TV. Don't miss the coverage of the match on acmilan.com, the Rossoneri social channels and on the AC Milan Official App where, from the following day, the full delayed broadcast will be available on demand.
LATEST FROM SERIE A FEMMINILE TIM
The AIA has appointed Marco Emmanuele from Pisa to referee AC Milan vs Roma. He will be assisted by linesmen Trischitta (Messina) and Spataro (Rossano). The fourth referee will be Dallagà (Rovigo).
The 11th matchday (second match of the second phase) of the Women's Serie A began on Saturday 3 December with two matches: Pomigliano 1-0 Sampdoria and Inter 0-2 Juventus. The programme for Sunday 4 December will start with Sassuolo vs Parma at 12:30 CET, while at 14:30 CET. Como vs Fiorentina will also be played alongside Milan vs Roma.
These are the standings in Serie A TIM: Roma 27; Juventus* 24; Inter*, Fiorentina 19; Milan 16; Sampdoria*, Pomigliano* 10; Sassuolo 9; Como 7; Parma 5. (* = denotes game in behind)
Tickets are available for AC Milan v Roma: see you at Vismara!
