Sciabica swings Serie A Femminile title race back in AS Roma’s favour with Juventus strike

Serie A Femminile returned with a bang in 2023 as the title race took yet another dramatic turn, as we have become accustomed to all season long.

After the meeting between AS Roma and Juventus at the back end of 2022, the gap was cut to just three points and a way back to the top became much more plausible for the Bianconere.

The antics of a 16-year-old star in the making and Roma’s prolific display against Fiorentina means that they have had some of their work undone already.

Juventus lose ground on AS Roma

Last season, Juventus vs Sassuolo was one of the fixtures that was immediately looked for. Sassuolo were the closest challenger to Juve for a good chunk of the season before Roma’s ascendancy.

Unfortunately, Sassuolo’s awful start to the 2022/23 campaign means that the game did not have the same level of importance this time. By the full-time whistle, though, the game was looking very important indeed.

The Bianconere took the lead after a very impressive strike from Cecilia Salvai early in the second half. Both sides were creating were very healthy number of chances which meant that the events in stoppage time were all that Sassuolo deserved.

An excellent run and cross from Benedetta Orsi was met in the box by Davina Philtjens whose touch on the ball was then slammed into the back of the net by the waiting Manuela Sciabica.

The 16-year-old wheeled away in an almost bemused celebration and the entire Sassuolo bench spilt onto the pitch to join the player they refer to as ‘Tarzan’ due to her incredibly thick and long head of hair.

Whilst it is a moral-boosting point for Sassuolo and an incredible moment for Sciabica as she gets her first professional goal, it was a major blow for a Juventus side who had seen Roma perform at their best the day before.

The Giallorosse raced into a 2-0 lead away at Fiorentina with goals from Andressa Alves and Giada Greggi before Milica Mijatovic was shown a straight red card for a high boot in the face of Norma Cinotti.

Alice Parisi halved the deficit just after the break, but then Alessandro Spugna’s side ensured that there would be no shock comeback. Emilie Haavi, Alves, 17-year-old Zara Kramzar, Cinotti and Manuela Giugliano made sure that it was an incredibly productive second half and the match ended 7-1.

With five games of the regular season left to play, Roma are now five points ahead of Juventus and back themselves to be top when the split happens. Juventus have beaten Roma twice in the league this season, Roma’s only two defeats, which is why the matter is far from settled. If Roma win their first title by a narrow points margin, though, they may well have Sciabica to thank.

Inter continue to impress whilst Pomigliano grab vital win

Along with Roma, Inter are probably the side that has made the clearest improvement this season in Serie A Femminile and that has continued to be the case as the season has worn on. They easily beat Sampdoria 4-0 at the weekend and their three key scorers all found the net.

The incredibly talented Tabitha Chawinga scored, along with Ghoutia Karchouni, Elisa Polli and youngster Chiara Robustellini. The first three names have got 22 league goals between them this season.

There was a big game at the bottom of the table as Como took on Pomigliano at home, but it was the Campanians who ran out 1-0 winners and launched themselves up to sixth in the table.

Milan’s season appears to be over in regards to the title race or the Champions League spots, but they calmly beat Parma 2-0, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

Serie A Femminile Matchday 13 results

Serie A Femminile table after Matchday 13