Juventus Women just punched their ticket to the Women’s Champions League league phase, getting the result they absolutely needed with a gritty 1-1 draw against Austrian side St. Pölten. That means they secured a dominant 4-1 aggregate victory, showing everyone that this new-look squad is serious about their season.
Guerrero’s Squad Delivers Under Pressure
Can you believe the composure? Juventus Women locked down that crucial 1-1 draw in front of their home crowd in Biella on Wednesday night. Tatiana Pinto, man, she showed up huge, putting their lone goal in the net just five minutes before halftime. But let’s be real, the real heavy lifting happened last week in Austria with that monster 3-0 victory. That win gave the Bianconere the cushion they needed to close out the final round of qualification and snag that 4-1 aggregate advantage. It’s wild to think they had a much “less complicated draw” this time compared to two years ago when they had to go through a powerhouse like Paris Saint-Germain just to make the group stage. This team is built for these moments.
Isaac Guerrero’s Immediate Impact and the Grind
This qualification comes just two months after Isaac Guerrero took the reins as head coach. Talk about an immediate impact! He barely had any time to get his new squad, which saw a ton of turnover this summer, ready before the qualification process kicked off. And get this: the St. Pölten match was the team’s fourth game in a brutal five-game stretch over just 17 days, juggling both Champions League qualification and the Serie A Women’s Cup. Coach Guerrero didn’t mince words after the match, saying, “We didn’t think about managing, but we wanted to win. The girls have this spirit in their blood and they know that at this club you always have to win.” He added that qualifying for the UWCL league phase was “clearly our main goal for the season” and that these girls “proved they were worthy of this jersey once again.” You gotta love that fire!
What’s Next for the Bianconere
Now the focus shifts to Friday, when the UWCL league phase draw happens at 12 p.m. CEST in Nyon. Juve will be in Pot 2, alongside Serie A Women champions Roma. Even Inter Milan, after upsetting German giants Wolfsburg, is in Pot 3. This is huge for Italian football, marking the first time three Italian teams have made it to this stage of the Women’s Champions League. Before all that, though, the Bianconere have one more game in their early-season gauntlet: Sunday’s Group C finale in the Serie A Women’s Cup against AC Milan. Juve is currently atop that group. With Coach Guerrero confidently stating, “I think this team can do well against anyone,” you know they’re ready for whatever comes next. It’s going to be an exciting ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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