Juventus in crunch Roma tie as Milan derby on cards: Serie A Play-Offs Week 5 Preview
· Milan derby on the cards as Inter travel to the Centro Sportivo Pennino Vismama for a date with AC Milan on Saturday afternoon
· Sassuolo travel to Como on Sunday in the biggest relegation play-offs match yet
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Defending champions Juventus have a ‘title deciding’ clash against marauding log leaders Roma away at the Stadio Tre Fontane in Rome on Saturday afternoon.
Should the Turin side lose this encounter, the gap to the log leaders – who have lost just two matches and drawn none this term – will increase to 11 points and the title will effectively be gone.
Joe Montemurro’s side recorded an epic comeback against Fiorentina last weekend, coming from three goals down to record a crucial 4-3 win as they seek to reclaim the title which they have held for five consecutive years. On the other hand, Alessandro Spugna’s side demolished Inter Milan 6-1 away to maintain an eight point lead on Juventus.
Forwards Cristiana Girelli, Lineth Beerensteyn and Barbara Bonansea and midfielder Julia Grosso were on the scoresheet in Juventus’ 4-3 win over Fiorentina last weekend and the quartet will be expected to replicate their form in this encounter.
Forwards Emilie Haavi, Benedetta Glionna and Valentina Giacinti and midfielder Andressa Alves were on target in Roma’s 6-1 capitulation of Inter last weekend and they will be tasked with steering the championship hopefuls to a crucial win.
Roma are at the top of the championship play-offs standings on 57 points from 19 wins in 21 contests whilst Juventus are second on 49 points from 15 wins and four draws in the same number of outings.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan will be looking to bounce back from a three-match losing streak in the championship play-offs when they travel to the Centro Sportivo Peppino Vismara for a Milan derby clash against cross-town rivals AC Milan on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors were at the receiving end of a harsh 6-1 thumping by Roma last weekend and will summon their full might as they seek to regain control of their season. AC Milan, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat to Roma a fortnight ago.
Rita Guarino’s side will summon the services of marauding Malawian forward Tabitha Chawinga, who is top scorer in the current Serie A Femminile campaign with 18 goals, whilst Maurizio Ganz’s side will pin their derby hopes on former Fiorentina forward Martina Piemonte who is club top scorer with 10 goals.
Inter are fourth on the championship play-offs table on 35 points from 10 wins and five draws in 21 encounters whilst AC Milan are fifth on goal difference and have registered 11 wins, two draws and eight losses in the same number of ties.
RELEGATION ROUND
Sassuolo will be looking to make it four wins in a row in the relegation play-offs when they travel to Como on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors will unleash their three-match winning momentum on the hostesses, who will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce after beating Pomigliano 3-1 last weekend.
Sassuolo are at the top of the relegation play-offs standings on 26 points from seven wins and five draws in 21 outings whilst Como are second on 18 points from four wins and six draws in the same number of contests.
Troubled Sampdoria will be looking for their first win of the relegation play-offs when they host Pomigliano on Sunday afternoon.
Sampdoria are at the bottom of the relegation play-offs table on 12 points from three wins and three draws in 21 ties whilst Pomigliano are third on 17 points from five wins and two draws in the same number of encounters.
Click on a match below to follow it Live! on forzafootball.com and on the Forza Football App
FIXTURES: Saturday 22 April, 2023 (12:30) AC Milan vs. Internazionale
FIXTURES: Saturday 22 April, 2023 (14:30) AS Roma vs.Juventus
FIXTURES: Saturday 23 April, 2023 (12:30) Sampdoria vs. A.S.D Pomigliano
FIXTURES: Sunday 23 April, 2023 (14:30) FC Como vs. Sassuolo
All Times are Central European Time (CET)