The AC Milan Women secured a hard-fought and well-deserved win against Sampdoria in matchday two of the 2021-2022 Serie A season thanks to a great header from Italian midfielder Greta Adami early in the second half. The score could have been much higher if not for a great performance from Milan loanee goalkeeper Selena Babb.
Here are five talking points from the fixture
1 – The system works
Once again, Ganz chose to use the 3-4-2-1 formation composed by:
Giuliani; Fusetti, Agard, Codina Panedas; Bergamaschi, Jane, Adami, Tucceri Cimini; Thomas, Vero; Giacinti
The team is really starting to gel and improve at a collective level, especially the midfield. Both Jane and Adami are starting to understand their roles in Ganz’s mechanism and giving more fluidity to the game.
2 – We’ve got ourselves a solid defense
On the paper, it was clear that Milan’s defense was one of the strongest in the league, but now, after two games, this impression was confirmed. In both matches against Hellas Verona and Sampdoria, Milan did not concede any shots on target from them, keeping two clean sheets in their two Serie A fixtures so far.
3 – Tucceri Cimini, the dead ball specialist
The Ac Milan women fans are well familiar with left fullback and left wingback Linda Tucceri Cimini’s precision on set pieces and this could be another great option to break the deadlock against a compact defensive line, like Sampdoria’s. Linda not only gave the assist for Adami’s goal but provided a bundle of goal scoring opportunities during the match.
4 – Laia Codina, the wonderkid
Codina was a perfect fit in this team. The Spaniard is pure class, always in the right place and right time, spotless sense of positioning and composure. No wonder she carved her way in the starting eleven this fast.
5 – The gaffer must use the bench earlier in the game
Well, there is this. Ganz’s use of the bench and his timing of the substitutions are a recurrent issue and every milanista is aware of that. The gaffer must use the bench early in the game whether to change the flow of the game or to give some players a bit of rest. For example, Thomas was not having a good game, but she was subbed of for Longo very late in the match.
The rossonere now set their eyes on their next Serie A fixture, against Lazio, on September 11, at the Formello C.S. Campo Aquile, Rome, at 2:30 PM CEST.
