27 March 2022
After heroics in the Champions League, Juventus confirmed their excellent form with a 3-1 success over Inter at Vinovo. Title challengers Roma had closed the gap to two points at the top of the table so victory was important to fend off the Giallorosse. And the three points duly arrived thanks to a double either side of the interval from Lisa Boattin. The points were made secure by Agnese Bonfantini, who repeated her super sub act from midweek with goal number three.
CONFIDENT FROM KICK OFF
Juventus lined up against Inter for the third time in as many months after meeting home and away in the Coppa Italia in January and February. The two teams knew each other inside out, so it was no surprise that for the opening 20 minutes, the sides struggled to create chances. What was surprising though, was Joe Montemurro’s decision to confirm all but three of the starting XI that faced Lyon in midweek in the Champions League. Matilde Lundorf, Martina Rosucci and Lina Hurtig took a place on the bench, as Tuija Hyyrynen, Arianna Caruso and Barbara Bonansea started from kick off.
It was Bonansea, who had already stung Francesca Durante’s gloves with a driven cross, called the goalkeeper into the first save of the match on 22 minutes. The Juve number 11 hit a dipping shot from outside the box, which Durante did well to tip wide.
Just four minutes later, however, Juventus found the way past the Inter keeper. A free-kick was touched to Lisa Boattin, whose sweet left foot did the rest, as the ball sped past Durante into the bottom corner.
Pinning Inter inside their own half, the Bianconere were worth their lead, and the hosts continued to press forward after the goal. Inter's deep defending denied, however, any sight on goal. One such example was a strong run from Valentina Cernoia, whose shot was blocked as she entered the penalty area.
Immediately after, the Nerazzurre sprung forward on the counter attack. Njoya Ajara used her pace to sprint to the edge of the Juve penalty box. Her pass picked out Tatiana Bonetti, whose left foot shot found the top corner beyond the reach of Pauline Peyraud Magnin.
The remaining 10 minutes of the opening half saw Juventus seek to regain their advantage, but again Inter soaked up the pressure. Just one opportunity, Cristiana Girelli played through Bonansea, who lifted her shot over the crossbar.
ADVANTAGE RESTORED
After the interval, Juve maintained the momentum with which they had closed the first half. Their determination was rewarded five minutes from the restart.
A Cernoia pass found Bonansea on the run. She off-loaded to Boattin, who once again unleashed a ferocious left foot shot, which this time hit the inside of the post before crossing the line.
Trailing for the second time in the match, Inter were obliged to take some risks and push players forward. Gloria Marinelli was found in space on the left side of the penalty area. Peyraud-Magnin had no difficulty to smother the shot.
With 20 minutes played in the second half, both coaches decided to introduce fresh legs. Inter made three changes, Juve two, and it was one of those two that needed no time before leaving her mark on proceedings, just as she had in the Champions League. Agnese Bonfantini burst past two Inter defenders in her first involvement since entering. Her cross, intended for Arianna Caruso, was deflected to safety by the Nerazzurre defence.
The Juve rearguard stood just as solidly against Njoya Ajara, who twice had her shots blocked. Boattin cleared long to Girelli, whose control, turn and vision were outstanding as she played Bonfantini in behind the Inter defence. Racing in on goal, Bonfantini steadied herself before drilling low past Durante for her second goal of the week.
Lisa Sembrant had the chance to extend the lead further after a goalmouth scramble five minutes later before a fully-stretched Peyraud-Magnin denied Inter a way back into the match.
Juventus saw out the remainder of the match without running any further risk. Having restored the five-point lead at the top of Serie A, Montemurro's team travel to Lyon in buoyant mood for the second leg of the Champions League quarter final.
JUVENTUS 3-1 INTER (HT: 1-1)
SCORERS: 26’ & 50’ Boattin (J), 34’ Bonetti (I), 69’ Bonfantini (J)
JUVENTUS
Peyraud-Magnin; Hyyrynen (81’ Lundorf), Gama, Sembrant, Boattin; Caruso (74’ Zamanian), Pedersen, Grosso; Cernoia (64’ Bonfantini), Girelli (74’ Nilden), Bonansea (64’ Hurtig).
Subs not used: Aprile, Panzeri, Lenzini, Rosucci.
Coach: Montemurro
INTER
Durante; Sønstevold, Kathellen, Kristjánsdóttir, Merlo (65’ Landström); Karchouni (65’ Polli), Simonetti, Csiszàr (83’ Regazzoli); Marinelli (65’ Pandini), Njoya Ajara, Bonetti (84’ M. Portales).
Subs not used: Gilardi, Santi, Brustia, Alborghetti.
Coach: Guarino
Referee: Ferrieri Caputo
