by Guendalina Galdi
Roma wins the women’s football championship from the sofa: Inter beats Juventus for the first time, vice champion of Italy and the arithmetic Giallorossi tricolor
For the second consecutive year Roma wins the women’s scudetto. The six minutes of injury time between Juventus and Inter, even though the Nerazzurri were 2-0 up in the 44th minute, seemed to never end. But when the match in Biella really ended, all the Roma women jumped from the sofa and all the players let themselves go into wild celebration. Like those seen and reviewed on the pitch, only in the living room. Celebrating remotely has never been so beautiful. In the championship round in which she rested, Roma women won and celebrated their second consecutive scudetto.
A triumph, the culmination of an exciting season as defined by Federica Cappelletti, president of the Professional Women’s Serie A Division. Twenty victories in 22 Serie A matches, record goals, positive goal difference of +45. Only one defeat and one draw, achieved last Saturday at Viola Park when the first match point for the title failed due to a 0-0 draw with Fiorentina. A little bad. Six days of waiting and then Juventus’ defeat against Inter (2-0) brought joy and the arithmetic certainty of the title. Jubilation. The team couldn’t help but experience this moment together. They believed in it from day one and proved it until the end.
After last season – and the first scudetto in history – it was difficult to confirm oneself but not for a team like the Giallorossi who are experiencing a unique April finale just like in 2023. This year, however, it seems that everything has an even more special flavour, because The awareness has grown more than before that the hierarchies in Italy have now changed and coach Alessandro Spugna’s Roma are the team to beat. It’s all part of a growth path, constant and impressive, which passes from property investments and ends with (happy) sporting results. In the last two or three seasons the team has acquired ever greater value and is one of the fastest growing teams in Europe.
Just think of the three consecutive Champions League qualifiers, including the last one obtained 8 days early. In short, in Rome the focus is on the women’s sector. The Friedkins have always complied with requests for budget increases. And this is demonstrated by the investments made in the market both to make the squad more competitive and with the introduction of new figures in the technical staff who have improved the daily work. Scouts have increased and new sports scientists have become a far-sighted support to athletic trainers. The performances of each player in training and in matches are analyzed with data, numbers and GPS analysis: a way to improve work planning, which can become even more specific in some phases of the season. Dan Friedkin visited the CONI Olympic preparation center (the Giulio Onesti Center where the team trains) months ago and spoke with Betty Bavagnoli, head of the women’s department which has recently been renewed until 2027, to plan the near future and understand how to further improve the work.
The company’s investment has been articulated in recent years with targeted and constant investments, starting with the most impressive one in the Tre Fontane dell’Eur stadium which hosts the home matches of the women’s Roma team. The facility is not owned but the club invested 300 thousand euros to redevelop it and make it compliant with the Women’s Champions League, otherwise the team would have had to continue playing in Latina. Instead, fans can follow Bartoli, Giugliano, Giacinti, Linari and their teammates live without having to go to another municipality. Five seasons ago the average spectators were around 500 per match, today it is 1500 and Tre Fontane is often sold out. Another victory. Facilities, resources, growing interest and results have also been a magnet for sponsors.
And here too Roma represents something unique given that the Giallorossi women’s team is the only one in Italy to have a dedicated shirt sponsor (Ibsa), i.e. exclusive and not shared with the men’s team. All part of the journey which with the second championship in a row was enriched by another prestigious achievement. But it doesn’t end here because on May 24th there is the Italian Cup final against Fiorentina. And for a team like this, a double is certainly not a mirage.
Corriere della Sera also on Whatsapp. sufficient click here to subscribe to the channel and always be updated.
April 26, 2024 (modified April 26, 2024 | 11:52 pm)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED