Coppa Italia Final: The tactics and key battles that could decide the final

Roma have a second consecutive Coppa Italia Femminile final to look forward to on Sunday (kick-off: 14:15 CEST), when they will be up against the strongest side in Italian women’s football, Juventus.

Looking to retain the trophy they won by beating Milan on penalties last year, Roma go into the game on the back of 15 games unbeaten and five wins in a row across all competitions.

If they can overcome one last hurdle and attain one more positive result – whether that be in 90 minutes, after extra time or via penalties again – the trophy will remain theirs.

But it will not be easy against the only side to finish above them in Serie A this season. Roma will have to get all the ingredients right to put in a competitive performance against the league champions.

Having got their hands on a trophy of their own last season, though, Roma will not want to relinquish it. Hence, here is how they could approach a final brimming with battles with a winning mentality.

Lessons to learn from past meetings

• START FAST
  

The only previous time Roma have beaten Juventus was in the first leg of last season’s semi-final. Of paramount importance that day was the way they started the game.

Roma took the lead within 90 seconds courtesy of Annamaria Serturini, sparking belief that they could defeat a dominant force of Italian football.

Of course, concentration levels cannot drop after an early goal, but it certainly helped Roma’s confidence and eased any nerves. If they can repeat that on an even bigger stage, it would be beneficial.

Precedent may come from Roma’s last league game of the season. Against Lazio, they scored within 40 seconds via Milica Mijatovic. It was the second-fastest goal of their history.

On the flipside, Juventus are not accustomed to conceding first too often; it has only happened in three of their past 10 games in all competitions. But by doing so last year, Roma gained control of a tricky tie and could be seeking to again.

• USE WIDTH
  

Another key ingredient of that critical first win over Juventus was Roma’s use of width. The first goal developed from a dribble down the right by the since departed Lindsey Thomas, who went on to score the winner that day after pouncing in from the wing to latch onto a loose ball.

It was evident in that game that Roma could hurt Juventus down the channels, not so much because of any weakness there for the opponents – the likes of Lisa Boattin and Tuija Hyyrynen are good players – but due to the Giallorosse’s own strengths in those regions.

And there is an argument to say Roma are even better on the flanks now than they were then. Thomas may have left, as did Agnese Bonfantini – who could line up against Roma for Juventus on Sunday – but the likes of Emilie Haavi, Milica Mijatovic and Benedetta Glionna have been added into the mix.

Furthermore, when Roma have operated with a back three this season, it has pushed Serturini into an even wider role, from which she could explore a different angle of attack. Time will tell what system she is deployed in for the final.

• SWITCH ON AT SET PIECES
  

One mistake Roma have made in past defeats to Juventus has been a drop-off in concentration at set pieces. This was apparent in a 4-1 defeat in Serie A in December 2020, the second leg of last season’s semi-final, and the first meeting between the two sides this season.

In the 4-1 game, Juventus’ second and third goals came after developments from corners. It was proof that generally, Roma were competing with them quite well, but in some of the basic aspects, there was work to be done.

This season, too, the difference between Juventus and Roma was a corner. There was nothing to separate the sides when they last met, but their first league meeting in 2021-22 was a 2-1 win for Juventus, after Andrea Staskova headed in at the near-post after a set piece – just three minutes before Roma would have claimed a valuable point.

Set pieces are a pivotal part of football and could be influential in a game that is expected to be tight in open play. This time, Roma must get it right.

• TAKE EARLY SHOTS
  

Confidence is essential for this final, and Roma should have it, having cut the gap significantly with Juventus in the league this season.

Even their direct encounters have been closer; as mentioned, the first fixture this season was level until the 87th minute, and then the second ended as a 1-1 draw.

In both fixtures, Roma took on plenty of first-time shots. At Stadio Tre Fontane in October, Lucia Di Guglielmo put the hosts ahead by tapping in on the rebound after a parried save by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

Then, at Vinovo in March, Roma’s goal took a bit more working from Lazaro, but as they upped the intensity after her equaliser, several players tried their luck instantly when the ball fell to them.

It kept the pressure on Juventus; in that match, Roma had more than double the number of shots the hosts did. By playing on the front-foot and trying to catch Juventus out, Spugna’s side stand a chance of scoring multiple times – which they haven’t done against the Bianconere in their three most recent meetings.

• GET JUVENTUS FACING THEIR OWN GOAL
  

Yet Roma’s confidence has been building all the time. Although they only took one point off Juventus this season in the league, they were close to more.

On a similar theme, it will be important for them to keep pressing forward, variably attacking down either wing and through the middle.

Juventus boasted the best defence in Serie A this season, but Roma can push them by playing on the front foot, just as they have done at the last couple of attempts.

Some of Juventus’ key defenders, like Gama, Hyyrynen and Linda Sembrant, are in their 30s now. In theory, Roma’s pacy younger attackers like Serturini and Glionna could give them something difficult to deal with.

Of course, there is plenty of evidence to suggest Juventus’ backline can stand up to Roma when the ball is in front of them. But the Giallorosse got a lot of joy recently by getting in behind their defence and charging towards the keeper.

They will have to find ways to open up such avenues – Manuela Giugliano’s passing from midfield could be key – but it is a way in which they can make even Juventus nervous.

For both sides, there is a lot at stake – Juventus are targeting a clean sweep of domestic trophies this season; Roma want to retain the first honour they won last term – so the pressure will be on in all phases of the game. It will soon be time for the players to step up.

The Key Battles

• CEASAR v. GIRELLI

Roma’s hero in last season’s final was goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar. After keeping a clean sheet in the 90 minutes and extra time, she went on to produce two saves in the penalty shootout that led to her side’s victory.

After getting a rest for Roma’s last league game, she will need to be alert and at her best again to keep Juventus at bay should she be restored to the lineup, as is likely, for the final.

Roma were the highest scorers in Serie A Femminile this season, but Juventus were the next closest, with 57 goals from their 22 games. One of their main scorers was evergreen forward Cristiana Girelli, who netted seven goals from 17 appearances.

It was the first time she has failed to reach double figures in a league season since 2011-12, but she remains a formidable opponent. Indeed, in the first leg of their semi-final win over AC Milan in this competition, Girelli scored twice.

Ceasar will have to brace herself to face a number of shots from the Juventus attack, with Girelli a particular source of danger.

• LAZARO v. GAMA
  

Roma have a dangerous striker of their own, though; Paloma Lazaro has enjoyed a strong second season with the club.

With 10 league goals, she outscored any Roma or Juventus player in Serie A this term. In addition, she contributed three goals during the run to the Coppa Italia final.

Lazaro has not only impressed due to her goalscoring traits, though. Her general ability to lead the line by holding the ball up well has set her apart.

She faces a tough task on Sunday in that regard, when she will be up against one of the league’s strongest defenders, Sara Gama.

The Italy captain is now 33 but has still been attaining regular starts, particularly over the past few months. Since the last meeting between the two clubs, she has only failed to start one league match.

• SERTURINI v. HYYRYNEN
  

Another goalscoring avenue for Roma could be from the left flank, where a recently rested Annamaria Serturini should come back into the side to add to her 100 appearances for the club.

No player has ever scored more goals for Roma than Serturini. Admittedly, this season has not been her most prolific – in part due to being deployed in a slightly deeper role – but she did come back into scoring form in her most recent Serie A outing.

The final would be the perfect time for her to contribute her first goal of this season’s Coppa Italia run.

To stand the best chance of having an impact, she may have to get the better of one of Juventus’ most experienced players, Tuija Hyyrynen.

Juventus have a few options they can use at right-back, but the Finnish full-back was the player they turned to in that position in their last league game of the season. It was her 16th appearance of her fifth Serie A season.

Without a goal all season and with only two assists to her name from 23 appearances, she is better at her defensive duties than being an attacking threat. But in that regard, Serturini will have to be clever in how she approaches her main marker

• GIUGLIANO v. CARUSO
  

Finally, another battle between two Italians will occur in the centre of the pitch, where Manuela Giugliano and Arianna Caruso will be among those competing.

Giugliano has been a standout player for Roma this season, with only one opponent in Serie A bettering her tally of eight assists.

In comparison, Rome-born Caruso has enjoyed a prolific season up in Turin. In fact, with eight goals from 19 Serie A matches, she was Juventus’ top scorer in the league this term. She also scored three goals in the cup group stage.

Her most recent goal was a penalty in the second leg of Juventus’ cup semi-final win over Milan. She also scored from the spot against Sampdoria in the league in April, so Roma must be wary not to give away unnecessary fouls in their own box.

But Caruso’s influence is majorly apparent in open play, too – just like Roma’s Giugliano is effective over set pieces but also when the play flows through her.

They will be two of the main players to keep an eye on at the core of the action in what promises to be another enthralling encounter.

Follow Samuel Bannister on Twitter: @SamBanno1