11 February 2023
Cristiana Girelli will never forget the goal scored against Fiorentina, a goal that is now part of the history of Juventus Women. The number 10 has become the first to reach 100 goals with Juve.
Her header, which closed out the match against the Viola, etched her name even more in the Bianconere history books.
THE BEGINNING
Cristiana's black and white adventure began on 23 September 2018. It was a 12:30 kick off between Juventus Women and ChievoVerona Valpolicella. Girelli's first appearance with the shirt of Juventus in Serie A was also the first time the Bianconere had a number '10' on the field.
A debut to remember. In the 33rd minute she doubled the team's lead. It would be the first in a very long line of goals that would see her break record after record.
Her Juve bow also brought her a first brace, then against Fiorentina on 25 November 2018 her first away goal.
The following season Girelli became even more central to the team's play, even more clinical in front of goal. She finished the campaign as the Serie A top scorer, a title she held onto also the following year. It was in season 2020/21, against Pink Sport Time Bari, that she hit her personal best tally in one match, four goals. A feat she repeated this year against FC Zurich in the Champions League at the Allianz Stadium.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SCORING AT HOME
For the importance they have had for the team, Girelli's goals at the Allianz Stadium deserve a stand alone section.
The first priceless goal was on November 9, 2021, on the birthday of another great number 10 in Juve history, Alessandro Del Piero. The match was the showdown between Juventus Women and Wolfsburg. Girelli broke the deadlock. Then, not satisfied with her first goal at the Allianz Stadium, she also scored her first brace there in the final seconds - a brace that allowed the dream of playing in the quarter-finals of the Champions League become a reality.
Following on were goals against Servette and Lyon and the four already mentioned against Zurich.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cristiana's goals have inspired, even decided, many cup finals. From the 2019 Supercoppa to the 2022 Coppa Italia, without forgetting the 2021 Supercoppa, when Barbara Bonansea's brace stood out in the final, but to get there the team needed a Girelli goal in extra time against Roma in the semi-finals.
We could lose ourselves celebrating all her goals, listing them by importance, beauty or skill factor. In these 100 goals there has been everything: her predator's instinct, timing, class, coolness, grit, precision, power.
All have contributed step by step to her writing Juventus history, signing with her name.
A century. And it's far from over.
THE 100th GOAL
GIRELLI'S CENTURY IN NUMBERS
- 70 goals in Serie A, 13 in Coppa Italia, three in Supercoppa and 14 in the Champions League (qualifying included).
- 50 goals scored with her right foot, 12 with the left, 36 with her head and two with the body.
- 15 goals in season 2017/18; 17 goals in 2019/20; 26 goals in 2020/21; 20 goals in 2021/22; 22 goals in 2022/23.
