Bavagnoli sees importance of Napoli game as final preparation

Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Juventus was a reminder of the areas the Giallorosse can still work on, as they allowed a few good chances to go to waste in what was a very even encounter at Stadio Tre Fontane.

With just one league game – a curtain-closer away to Napoli – between the team and the Coppa Italia final showdown with AC Milan on May 30, Bavagnoli sees that meeting as a last chance for some fine-tuning.

“Absolutely,” she said.

“We are trying to finish the league campaign as strongly, even though we know we are facing sides who are equally determined to do the same.

“Napoli will do everything to ensure we don’t have it our own way, but we need to do that if only to ensure we go into the final in the best way possible – with a positive mentality.”

She added: “It’s been a long season, but the side are physically in good shape. Unfortunately we were not able to take advantage of the two or three chances we created [against Juventus].

“We know that is one area we need to improve and in the upcoming games we will need to be even more clinical and determined in the final third.”

Barbara Bonansea’s second half strike was the difference between Roma and Juventus on Sunday, ensuring the visitors retained their 100% record in the league.

Roma now sit just a point ahead of Fiorentina in the race to finish fourth – with a place in next season’s Supercoppa in their grasp as long as they win in Naples.

“We weren’t able to find the right answers out there as we have done recently,” Bavagnoli added, reflecting on the Juventus match.

“We tried to use direct balls over the top, attacking a bit more directly. Yes, they were pressing us high up the pitch, but at the same time we should have been able to react and find different solutions to that problem.

“The players know how to do that, but [in this game] they didn’t do it as well.”