11 September 2019
Juventus’ UEFA Women's Champions League outing against Barcelona ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of the Spanish side at Stadio Giuseppe Moccagatta in Alessandria. A first half strike from Putellas and a goal after the break by Torrejon saw the visitors claim first-leg advantage despite ending the game with 10 players.
There was no bigger way to officially kick-off the Bianconere’s season than against last year’s Champions League finalists, Barcelona. Rita Guarino had to do without the services of the injured Barbara Bonansea and Cecilia Salvai, while Sofie Pedersen and Eniola both started from the bench
There was a good ebb and flow in the opening minutes of the game, and it was Juventus who had the first chance of the match when a free-kick was delivered into the box, which saw Staskova header it towards goal, only for Panos to pluck it out of the air.
A massive chance fell to Barcelona in the 18th minute of the game when Guijarro fired an angled drive towards goal while Giuliani was off her line. The had beaten the Bianconere backline and skipped across the face of goal, only for it to go wide by just inches. Cernoia then struck a powerful effort from range four minutes later, which forced the opposition goalkeeper to drop down and make a last-ditch save.
The visiting team were proving very tricky in the attacking phase of the game, and they forced Giuliani into making a crucial diving save. Barcelona took the lead just before the break, when a goal-line scramble between Gama, Giuliani and Putellas tap the ball over the line to make it 0-1.
After the break, Rita Guarino introduced Aluko and Pedersen in the 51st and 65th minute respectively, while Graham also took a whack at goal but it sailed wide. Giuliani then made a good save from a Pereira effort.
Barcelona doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Putellas delivered a cross into the box: Marta Torrejon got onto the end of it and she nodded it into the back of the net. The Spanish side were then reduced to ten men after Leon brought down Aluko 20 yards out as the last woman. Cernoia then stood up to take a free-kick, and she struck a powerful effort that sailed just wide of goal.
Barcelona dominated possession in the final moments of the game, as they claimed an important away win.
Juventus: Giuliani, Boattin, Sembrant, Gama, Hyyrynen (Sikora 88'), Caruso, Galli, Rosucci (Pedersen 65’), Cernoia, Girelli, Staskova (Aluko 51’)
Substitutes: Bacic, Sikora, Franco, Aluko, Pedersen, Panzeri, Bragonzi
Barcelona: Panos, van der Gragt, Leon, Hermoso, Torrejon, Caldentey, Hamraoui, Putellas, Guijarro, Hansen, Sanchez
Substitutes: Font, Serrano, Bonmati, Ouahabi, Pereira, Andujar, Oshoala
RITA GUARINO: "It starts from the performance of the girls, and from how they interpreted the game. With a little more courage and aggression, perhaps we could have made it more difficult for them, but we know the value of Barcelona - a Champions League finalist. Matches like this must be faced openly, and we did that. We're disappointed at conceding the first goal, as it would have been important for us to go in at half-time level. Now let's recover our mental energy in view of Empoli on Saturday."
LISA BOATTIN: "We knew they would attack a lot and it would be a difficult game. We managed to stay in the game, despite the goal we conceded at the worst possible time. It was great to play in front of so many people tonight: Thank you to everyone."
