09 November 2021
Juventus Women left it late to secure a 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg in their UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Stage clash at Allianz Stadium on Tuesday evening, Cristiana Girelli’s brace earning her side a valuable point on Matchday 3.
After a cagey start, it was the visitors who created the better opportunities, a first shot from range coming seven minutes in which failed to trouble the Bianconere goalkeeper, before Felicitas Rauch unleashed a powerful shot on target minutes later, but Peyraud-Magnin was equal to the task.
Juve’s backline remained resilient as Wolfsburg continued their early attacking approach, yet were left exposed at the back midway through the half as the Bianconeri snatched the lead. Winning a midfield duel, the ball fell to Arianna Caruso who played the perfect pass through to Cristiana Girelli, the striker composing herself before firing in an unstoppable strike under the opposition goalkeeper to put the Bianconere ahead.
The lead would last only three minutes however, as a loose ball was latched onto by Lena Lattwein who volleyed from range to bring the German side level.
Spurred on by their equaliser, Wolfsburg ended the first half in the ascendency, Jill Roord’s well-taken strike from outside the box forcing Peyraud-Magnin into a diving save, with Tabea Waßmuth skewing her effort wide just before the break.
The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts as Valentina Cernoia took aim from distance, her shot gratefully clasped by the Wolfsburg goalkeeper. Minutes later the Bianconere had another half-chance, the ball getting stuck under Caruso’s feet in the box as she was unable to get her shot away.
Buoyed on by the 12 700-strong crowd, Juve continued their front-foot approach, pegging the Wolfsburg defense back as Barbara Bonanasea surged forward, her final pass failing to find a teammate, before Boattin’s effort from range made sure Wolfsburg shot-stopper Almuth Schult was kept on her toes.
Against the run of play, Wolfsburg then took the lead on 65 minutes, Waßmuth receiving a square pass from the right before tucking the ball into the back of the net to put the German side ahead for the first time in the game.
Content with the advantage, the Germans adopted a physical approach in the closing stages, using any opportunity to break down each Bianconere attack, Rauch receiving her matching orders for a second bookable offense as the visitors ended the match with 10 on the field.
With the clock ticking over to 90 minutes, it was Juventus who would have the final say as scorer of the game’s opener, Girelli, found herself unmarked at the near post following a Bianconere free-kick, blasting home from close range to secure a late leveller.
The scoreboard would read 2-2 at the final whistle, the Bianconere earning a hard-fought point to take their tally to four points after three matches as their European dream continues.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
JOE MONTEMURRO
“We played well until our goal, then we lost a bit of balance, and consequently we suffered from their attacks, as a consequence of our mistakes. They also scored their goals in moments in which we were in the ascendency. We then didn't play well, we had too much distances between the lines, as if we were split in two, but we showed character as a group, a fundamental thing to compete at these levels, so we’ll take this point. There was emotion, because now we believe in it and we know that we can do it: it is a pressure that we have never faced, and if we learn to manage certain moments of the game, we will be able to do better and better. Now let's not think about the Champions League, but we focus back on the championship, we have an important match with Lazio. The return leg will be tense, but also this forms part of our growth.”
CRISTIANA GIRELLI
"Our motto is ‘Fino alla fine (Until the End)’ and we interpreted it to the fullest tonight. I dreamed of a night like this, on Del Piero's birthday, to score a brace at the Allianz Stadium. I would never have believed it, but I hoped for it. The point is important, it keeps us alive in our quest for qualification. We believe in it and we want to win in Germany. In the first half we had some difficulties, we wanted to keep them high up the pitch and then we managed to do better when they got tired and stretched. They scored the second goal in our best moment, but we showed great character and belief to earn a point against a great team. Our path? We had the goal of the group stage, as Director Braghin said, it’s like we are at university, but as freshmen. But we are doing well, we know we will ahve to faec strong and experienced teams. As for my game, with coach Montemurro I am much more versatile, as last year I was more of a point of reference upfront. I'm learning a lot.”
JUVENTUS 2-2 WOLFSBURG (HT 1-1)
SCORERS: GIRELLI 22’, 90+1' (J); LATTWEIN 25’ (W), WAßMUTH 65’ (W)
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin, Lundorf (Hyyrynen 71’), Gama, Salvai, Boattin, Rosucci (Hurtig 67’), Pedersen, Caruso (Bonfantini 77’), Bonansea (Staskova 77’), Girelli, Cernoia
Unused substitutes: Aprile, Lenzini, Nilden, Zamanian, Giai, Beccari, Pfattner.
WOLFSBURG: Schult, Hendrich, Wedemeyer, Janssen, Rauch, Oberdorf, Lattwein, Wasbuth (Van de Sanden 66’), Huth, Knaak (Bremer 66’, Starke 90+4’), Roord (Svava 90+1’)
