WOMEN, NAPOLI v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

Returning from the break, which has seen several Rossonere with their respective national selections, and now to start a busy October on the right foot. Both defeated in their season openers, AC Milan and Napoli are in the hunt for their first victory of the season on Matchday 2 of the Serie A Femminile. The match, scheduled for Sunday 1 October at the Stadio G. Piccolo, will be the fifth meeting between the two teams, Ganz's Rossonere unbeaten so far. Let's delve into all the key points with our Match Preview. 

LATEST FROM PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
The Rossonere are chasing their first victory in the league after the opening-day loss to Roma. The match against the Giallorossi at the PUMA House of Football was not lacking in positive indications, including the reaction to going down and the impact of the new summer arrivals.  Swaby, Cernoia, Laurent and Stašková all found space from the start in the Rossonere's 4-3-3, as did Marinelli in the second half. Coach Ganz has plenty of choices at his disposal to try and extend their unbeaten streak (3V, 1N) against the Campania side and get the first three points of the season. And accompanying the Rossonere's is an encouraging statistic: AC Milan have won 10 of their last 11 matches in the top division against newly-promoted opponents, the only exception being the 3-3 draw against Como on 20 November.

Here are the squad for Napoli v AC Milan: Copetti, Giuliani, Lorenzi; Árnadóttir, Fusetti, Guagni, Piga, Swaby, Thrige; Adami, Cernoia, Dubcová, Grimshaw, Mascarello; Arrigoni, Bergamaschi, Dompig, Jonušaitė, Laurent, Marinelli, Stašková.

"We have prepared well," said Coach Ganz in the run-up to the match. "We will build on the courage we displayed in the second half against Roma, to attack high and play the ball. The more we play, the more dangerous we become for our opponents. We had a real team reaction, let's start again from that. We must try to redeem ourselves, limit mistakes and play attacking football."

LATEST FROM NAPOLI
Promoted to Serie A this season, Biagio Seno's Napoli want to impress and find their first points of the season against a top opponent like AC Milan. Despite the narrow defeat to Como Women in their opener (2-1), the Azzurre seemed courageous and were in the match for the whole 90 minutes, often dangerous but lacking in front of goal. Napoli attempted as many as 20 shots in fact in their season opener, without properly capitalising on the chances created. Seno is expected to use the 4-3-2-1 formation that has worked for his team, at the pivot of his midfield is a former Rossonera, Claudia Mauri, who played for AC Milan on 16 occasions between 2019 and 2021. But watch out for the substitutes, especially Eli del Estal, who scored on Matchday 1 and managed six goals in her last seven matches across Serie A and the Primera División Femenina. 

Here's what Alice Corelli had to say ahead of the match: "We are starting again from that second half we played against Como Women, when we showed that we are a team. We will need togetherness and compactness to counter a strong team like AC Milan, but we are charged up."

PRE-MATCH
Napoli and AC Milan are back playing each other in Serie A after 574 days. Moving to the individuals, Doris Bačić (seven) and Laura Giuliani (four) are, with Solène Durand (six), two of the three goalkeepers who made the most saves on the opening day. Gloria Marinelli has already found the net in Serie A against Napoli: on 28 August 2021, in an away match, for Inter.

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
In Italy, Napoli v AC Milan will be broadcast live on Sunday 1 October at 12:30 on DAZN. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the Rossonere's official social channels and the AC Milan Official App where, from the following day, the full coverage will also be available on demand.

LATEST FROM WOMEN'S SERIE A
In charge of the match between Napoli and AC Milan will be Mauro Gangi, referee from Enna, who will be assisted by linesmen Colavito (Bari) and Fracchiolla (Bari). Acting as the fourth official will be Vazzano from Catania.

Matchday 2 of Women's Serie A opens on Saturday 30 September with Roma v Como Women. On Sunday 1 October, as well as Napoli v AC Milan, Sassuolo v Pomigliano (14:30 CEST) and Juventus v Sampdoria (18:00 CEST). Monday 2 October at 18:00 CEST, Inter v Fiorentina. 

The current standings of Serie A Femminile: Roma, Inter, Juventus, Como Women, Fiorentina 3; Pomigliano, Napoli, Sassuolo, Milan, Sampdoria 0. 

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