While they try and get things back on track domestically, Juventus Women headed to Spain for a showdown with Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night in the Women’s Champions League. Following the disappointing
last-minute loss to Bayern Munich late last month, this was the chance for Max Canzi’s side to try and build some momentum to take back with them to Italy.
Chance there for the taking.
Chance taken by the Bianconere.
Juventus Women struck for two goals within an 11-minute span on each side of halftime, as Emma Stølen Godø’s stunner of a free kick tying things up before Barbara Bonansea’s header proving to be the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital. It allowed Juve to record their second win of the new-look league phase in the Women’s Champions League, putting the Bianconere in seventh place after entering the night four places lower than where they stand now.
It’s a win that is an absolutely crucial one considering they were facing a direct rival for a play-off spot with the top teams starting to separate themselves for the four automatic berths into the quarterfinals. Two of those teams in the top four after Wednesday night’s results — OL Lyonnes (fka Olympique Lyonnais Féminin) and Manchester United — still remain on the league phase schedule for Canzi’s side, with the French giants next up for Juve seven days from now.
And it was the kind of win in which they did it their way, too.
Juve had just 31% possession against Atlético Madrid, but was nearly level on total shots, 13-10. After Atléti took a 1-0 lead via Amaiur Sarriegi, Juventus Women were able to pull even on the cusp of halftime with Stølen Godø unstoppable from just outside of the box. The shot left the keeper absolutely still as it curled into the top-right corner of the Atlético Madrid goal.
I mean, just look at this free kick, folks. It’s an absolute thing of beauty. Try watching it just once.
Bonansea, wearing the captain’s armband with Cristiana Girelli and Martina Rosucci starting from the bench, proved to be the hero all of 10 minutes into the second half. On one of their best counterattacks of the night, young Spanish fullback Estela Carbonell got to the edge of the box and sent in a left-footed cross that a wide-open Bonansea at the back post headed home to give Juventus Women their first lead of the night.
That is where it stayed, too.
After the disappointment of the loss to Bayern Munich and the inconsistent start to the Serie A Women season, getting three points against Atlético Madrid is a huge step forward for Canzi and this team. Like I said, there are two very big opponents left on the schedule, so going into those games knowing that Juve is sitting on six points rather than toward the bottom of the table is a huge boon and some much-needed room for error as everybody fights for position and tries to figure out just how many points are needed to at least have the chance to play for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Sitting in seventh place and, remarkably, just one point off the top four is a credit to how they’ve handled things in Europe so far. They opened the league phase with a win over Benfica, lost a tough one to Bayern and now bounced back after falling behind a goal against Atlético Madrid. They can safely say they control their own destiny now whether it’s qualifying for the play-off round or even making a surprise push for a spot in the top four.
