Gallery: Fine margins decisive as Women lose at Juventus

Forward Barbara Bonansea scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to prod the home side in front.

After losing the meeting between these two sides 4-0 at the very start of the season, a repeat never looked on the cards in Turin this time around - with Betty Bavagnoli's side giving as good as they got throughout the contest.

“I wanted to see how we are looking in terms of our growth – and I saw some good things, and I saw some other things that perhaps show that we are not quite ready yet," Bavagnoli said afterwards.

Rosalia Pipitone was undoubtedly the busier of the goalkeepers in the first half but was nonetheless never unduly troubled, despite the busy attacking work from Bonansea and Eni Aluko.

The Giallorosse, playing out from the back with confidence, struggled to create clear-cut openings once they reached the final third - although their rhythm was disrupted twice, as first midfielder Manuela Coluccini (after 10 minutes) and then defender Federica Di Criscio (15 minutes into the second half) were forced off through injury.

Indeed, Di Criscio's exit would prove crucial - as in the minutes afterward it took Roma to re-settle as a defence, it was Bonansea who crept through to find the net.

It always looked probable that whoever broke the deadlock would win out, and so it proved. The Giallorosse pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but struggled with the final ball - with Allyson Swaby heading wide from a set-piece and Annamaria Serturini flashing over from a close range free-kick.

“These sort of games can be decided in moments,” Pipitone said afterwards.

“It’s a shame about the result. But we did well, we need to continue like this.

“Clearly we are improving – and we will continue to improve. There is still a long way to go this season and we always hope to do better.”

Bavagnoli added: “Last time we played them we gave them so many sights of goal, even beyond the four goals they scored. This time they had hardly anything, and we have to be pleased about that.

"We need to continue improving in that direction. Perhaps we need a bit more character, especially with the ball. Juventus are a side that will give you nothing for free. We will learn from it all.”

See photos from the game in the gallery below.

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