WOMEN, AC MILAN V SASSUOLO: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan Women's season continues with another tough fixture: after the Fiorentina and Roma games, they face a new challenge in Sassuolo. These 90 minutes will be fundamental in getting points on the board, regaining morale and enthusiasm, and moving up the standings. While waiting for the kick-off on Sunday at 14:30 CEST, we present the game with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM THE PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
It's been an intense week of work for the Rossonere, with a great desire to reverse recent form overshadowed by the last two defeats. Never in the history of the women's Serie A had AC Milan lost the first two matches of the season. For the game against Sassuolo, the team will be able to rely on two important figures in Christy Grimshaw and Kosovare Asllani, fully available to Coach Ganz after recently recovering. However, compared to the team's last outing away to Roma, Alia Guagni and Marta Mascarello will both be out.

Here is the squad list for the match: Babb, Beka, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Carage, Fusetti, Mesjasz, Soffia, Thrige, Tucceri Cimini; Adami, Donolato, K. Dubcová, Grimshaw, Vigilucci; Asllani, Bergamaschi, M. Dubcová, Piemonte, Thomas.

This is what Coach Maurizio Ganz had to say ahead of the game: "An important match awaits against a team that has changed a lot compared to last season. We want to do well, and, week by week, our aim is to get all our players back so we can train and prepare in the best way possible."

LATEST FROM SASSUOLO
Sassuolo have also started the season with two defeats: against Sampdoria at home and Parma away, going down 2-1 after taking the lead in both games. In the summer, the Neroverde changed a lot in the squad, with several excellent players departing and a few staples remaining such as Belgian defender Philtjens, midfielder Pondini and Scottish striker Clelland. Among the arrivals were the Austrian Kresche in goal, the Danish midfielder Pleidrup and two top Italian forwards Goldoni and the young Bragonzi. Last weekend the Neroverde, under the leadership of Gianpiero Piovani, took to the field with a 4-3-1-2 formation, lined up as follows: Kresche; Mella, Filangeri, Pleidrup, Philtjens; Pondini, Jane, Brignoli; Moraca; Nocchi, Clelland.

"I want to see improvements in terms of our character, but also on a technical level," said Gianpiero Piovani. "We need to take that little step that we weren't quite able to manage in our last game and which we achieved in the first half against Sampdoria."

PRE-MATCH
The rivalry between the Rossonere and the Neraverde is one that has seen several crucial moments in recent seasons, with the two teams often battling at the top of the table. Sassuolo were involved in one of the AC Milan's greatest moments in its short history: it was against the Emiliane that the first historic qualification for the Women's Champions League came in May 2021. In the Women's Serie A there have been seven previous matches between the two teams, with three wins to one for the Rossonere (three draws). There's a more positive outlook after last season for our opponents, however: Sassuolo won 2-0 at the Vismara in September and drew 0-0 on Emiliana soil last February. There will be three former players on the pitch: on the Rossonere side, the twins Kamila (three seasons at Sassuolo with 18 goals scored in Serie A) and Michaela Dubcová, while Refiloe Jane, at AC Milan between 2019 and 2022 with 45 appearances and three goals, will play. 

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
AC Milan v Sassuolo will be shown on Timvision and on Milan TV this Sunday from 14:30 CEST. The match will also be covered on acmilan.com, the Rossoneri's social media pages and on the AC Milan Official App, where the entire match will be available on demand the day after.

LATEST FROM WOMEN'S SERIE A
Referee Dario Madonia from Palermo has been appointed to officiate the match between AC Milan and Sassuolo. Assisting the Sicilian referee will be linesmen Barberis (Collegno) and Peloso (Nichelino), as well as fourth official Dasso (Genoa).

The third matchday of the Women's Serie A opened on Friday afternoon with the big match between Juventus and Roma, which ended 1-0 to the Bianconeri. Today at 14.30 CEST, Inter v Parma will be taking place, while tomorrow the others will be played: Fiorentina v Parma at 12.30 CEST, while at 14.30 CEST, in addition to AC Milan v Sassuolo, there will be Como v Sampdoria. 

This is the Serie A TIM table: Juventus* 7; Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Roma* 6; Juventus, Inter 4; Parma 3; Sassuolo, Pomigliano, Milan, Como 0. (* = game in hand)

Tickets are available for AC Milan v Sassuolo: see you at Vismara!