‘Derby d'Italia’ on cards as Juventus seek to narrow gap: Serie A Femminile Play-Offs Week 5 Preview
• Juventus in Inter ‘derby d’Italia’ test as Serie A Femminile play-offs reach halfway point
- Fiorentina host Sassuolo on Saturday afternoon
- Relegation-threatened Pomigliano travel to Sampdoria on Saturday
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Second place Giuseppe Zappella’s Juventus have an uphill battle when they host fifth place Rita Guarino’s Inter at the Pozzo-La Marmora in Biella on Friday evening.
The Turin side, who are coming from a 2-1 home win over Sassuolo last weekend, will be looking to make it two wins on the trot as they look to prevent Roma from extending their lead to 14 points at the top of the Serie A Femminile table. Inter, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats as they seek to keep pressure on fourth place Sassuolo who are just two points ahead of them on 32.
Current Serie A Femminile top scorer Cristiana Girelli will be expected to turn up for the encounter having netted 10 goals in 18 appearances for the Bianconere. Nigerian international Onyi Echegini and French international Lindsey Thomas who are joint third top scorers in the current campaign with eight goals apiece will also be expected to rise to the occasion.
Inter, on the other hand, will be banking on former Bayern Munich forward Lina Magull who is club top scorer with seven goals in 10 appearances.
Juventus have registered 50 points in 22 outings whilst Inter have recorded 30 points in the same number of contests.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing draw with Roma last week when they host Sassuolo at the Stadio Curva Fiesole - Viola Park in Florence on Saturday evening.
The hosts will summon the services of former AC Milan midfielder Veronica Boquete who is joint-third top scorer in the current Serie A campaign with eight goals in 20 appearances. They will also bank on the services of forward Michela Catena who is club second top scorer with seven goals in 20 appearances.
Fiorentina are third on the championship play-offs standings on 40 points from 12 wins and four draws in 22 encounters whilst Sassuolo are fourth on 32 points from 10 wins and three draws in the same number of ties.
RELEGATION ROUND
FC Como will be looking to make it two wins on the bounce when they travel to troubled Napoli on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors will be looking to build on their 2-1 win over Pomigliano a fortnight ago whilst the hosts will be looking for their third win of the term.
The visitors will turn to the services of Hungarian forward Zsanett Kajan who is club top assist maker with four.
Como are second on the Serie A Femminile relegation play-offs standings on 25 points from seven wins and four draws in 22 contests whilst Napoli are fourth on 11 points from two wins and five draws in the same number of outings.
Beleaguered Pomigliano will be looking for an elusive second win of the term when they travel to Sampdoria on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors have registered a meagre four points from one win and one draw in 22 ties whilst the hosts have registered 24 points from seven wins and three draws in the same number of encounters.
FIXTURES: Friday 26 April, 2024 (20:30) Juventus vs. Inter
FIXTURES: Saturday 27 April, 2024 (12:30) Sampdoria vs. Pomigliano
FIXTURES: Saturday 27 April, 2024 (14:30) Napoli vs. Como
FIXTURES: Sunday 27 April, 2024 (18:00) Fiorentina vs. Sassuolo
All Times are Central European Time (CET)