Juventus Women‘s involvement in the 2023/24 Women’s Champions League ended prematurely on Saturday, September 9, with the Bianconere falling to a penalty shootout loss way at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Bianconere faced the German side in what was the final of their Qualification Round 1 mini-tournament, with each of the two sides having won earlier in the week in their respective semi-finals. Eintracht will now advance to Round 2, which will be a two-legged tie with a place in the Women’s Champions League group stage on offer.
No Women’s Champions League for Juventus
Joe Montemurro and his Bianconere will have to focus on domestic duties in 2023/24, and the coach said as much in his post-match press conference in Germany. After a historic quarter-final two seasons ago, and a decent group phase showing last season where they fell just short to Lyon and Arsenal, there was hope that the Italian side would embark on another European campaign in 2023/24. But it wasn’t to be.
Juventus probably edged the first half in Frankfurt but the sides were locked level at the break. Sofia Cantore came off the bench for Barbara Bonansea at half-time and opened the scoring within two minutes of her arrival.
Then, though, mistakes were punished. Estelle Cascarino saw a slip-up pounced upon, allowing Eintracht to draw level. Then, the Germans were the better side and hit the crossbar twice, also forcing some good saves from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the Bianconere goal.
In the shootout, Juventus missed first through Cascarino. A Peyraud-Magnin save followed by another Eintracht miss gave Lineth Beerensteyn the chance to send the Serie A Femminile side through, but she failed to convert. Then, Paulina Nystrom missed the decisive kick and Eintracht won 5-4 on penalties.
Serie A Femminile and Italy will now turn to AS Roma to fly the flag in the Women’s Champions League this season. The Giallorosse made it to the quarter-finals last year before falling to eventual champions Barcelona.
