WOMEN'S COPPA ITALIA, AC MILAN v ROMA: MATCH PREVIEW

All of this in seven days, against the strongest side. Roma, reigning Italian champions and current league leaders, sit between Corti's AC Milan and the second Women's Coppa Italia final in Club history. It will be a redo of last year's semi-final, the chance to steer the season in the right direction by closing down an important goal. Two games, back to back, 180 minutes to be played in the space of seven days. We're drawing closer to the first 90 at the PUMA House of Football, find out more in our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM PUMA HOUSE OF FOOTBALL
It will be time, starting from the second half of March, to think about the Relegation Round. The Rossonere are in the best form of all season, and the convincing wins over Sampdoria and Inter are the result. In the first two meetings with the Giallorosse this season, the squad walked away with less than they deserved. The Cup, aside from what is at stake, could offer the chance for revenge. Several Rossonere were away on international duty over the break but have returned to the PUMA House of Football as we draw closer to the clash. No one is suspended or on a booking. It is also worth noting that in the quarter-final fixtures against Sassuolo, 17 different players were featured in the two starting line-ups.

The Rossonere squad-list: Babb, Copetti, Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Bergamaschi, Fusetti, Guagni, Mesjasz, Piga, Swaby; Cernoia, Dubcová, Grimshaw, Mascarello, Soffia, Vigilucci; Asllani, Dompig, Ijeh, Laurent, Marinelli, Nadim, Stašková.

"I think that the squad is doing well, the last two performances were convincing and led to good results", Corti said on the eve of the game. "The Coppa Italia is an aim of the Club, it helps to create a certain mentality. The focus is entirely on Roma, we can think about these two games without being interrupted by the league. Today, we have more identity and getting the results by playing well is something that gives the squad strength".

LATEST FROM ROMA
17 wins in 18 games in the first phase of the league with Women's Champions League 2024/25 qualification already confirmed by the numbers. Roma is having an exceptional season, the Giallorosse start the Scudetto Round 8 points clear of second. In the Coppa Italia, however, Spugna's side has been faced with a few more obstacles: mostly at the hands of Napoli who were able to beat the league leaders in the first leg of the quarter-finals before failing to do the double over them, losing in the 84th minute of the second leg. Sealing the 3-0 win on 7 February at the Tre Fontane was the Slovenian player, Kramžar, who is the leading top goalscorer in the competition with 4 goals, equal to Napoli's Banusic and our very own Christy Grimshaw. The international break saw 17 Giallorosse in action, with defender Linari, who has already bagged 8 goals this season, reaching the milestone of 100 appearances for the Azzurre.

"AC Milan have had a difficult season but have strong players," said Alessandro Spugna on the eve of the game. "They're a dangerous side to face over two legs in the semis, and they'll do all that they can to achieve their remaining objective. We have the potential to make it through to the final."

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• Fourth meeting in the Coppa Italia of the two sides, after the final in 2021 and the two semi-final games last year. In all previous meetings, AC Milan has won 7, Roma have won 6, and there have been 5 draws.
• This is the Rossonere's fifth-ever semi-final participation, the fourth in a row. This season, AC Milan is the side to have scored the most goals in the Coppa Italia with 13: 7 against Hellas Verona, and a total of 6 against Sassuolo.
• In each of the last eight games in all competitions, Corti's side has conceded an average of less than one goal per game (7 total goals), collecting 3 clean sheets. Considering only the league, AC Milan has scored 59% of their goals in the first half (13/22): the best in the Women's Serie A.
• Christy Grimshaw has scored 5 of her career goals for AC Milan in the Coppa Italia, 4 of them in this edition: the Scottish player sits above fellow midfielder, Kamila Dubcová, who surpassed her record for goals in the previous four editions with the hattrick in the quarter-finals first leg against Sassuolo.

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN ON TV
AC Milan v Roma will be streamed live on the FIGC Women's Football YouTube channel from 12:30 CET. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the Rossonere Instagram and the AC Milan Official App where the full game will be available the following day.

LATEST FROM WOMEN'S COPPA ITALIA
Refereeing the clash between the Rossonere and Giallorosse will be Domenico Mirabella. Assisting will be Lisi and Nigri, with Vingo as the fourth official. 

As with last season, the Coppa Italia semi-finals break up the regular season and the second phase of the Women's Serie A. Together with AC Milan v Roma, on Sunday 3 March at 15:00 CET there will be the first leg between Fiorentina and Juventus. Both return legs will be played at the end of the week, with the Bianconere and the Viola facing off on Saturday 9 March at 15:00 CET.

Match Kits, clothing, accessories, gift ideas and much more: visit the AC Milan online Store!