Despite a very busy beginnng of my work at school, I should be able to watch the match tonight. According to Europa Cup's website, Inter should start with: Rúnarsdóttir; Ivana Andrés, Milinković, Pleidrup; Schough, Vilhjálmsdóttir, Magull, Csiszàr, Robustellini; Polli, Bugeja. Only two Italian starters! Italian women's football is becoming eerily similar to Italian men's football, by this point of view.
Hibernian's top player's name is Kathleen McGovern. I can't help being reminded of Elizabeth McGovern in "Once Upon a Time in America".
Inter scores 1-0 at 4' already. It's Haley Bugeja, once again, from a brilliant back-heel assist by Lina Magull.
2-0, Olivia Schough, from a Chiara Robustellini's assist at 10'. The match is basically only played in Hibernian's half: it could be a very long night for them.
Haley Bugeja hits the post at 30'. Lina Magull is everywhere and Chiara Robustellini is always free on Inter's Left-Wing. No shots by Hibernian so far, possession must be around 80%-20%, in my opinion: Hibernian are just hoplessly wating for Inter in their half.
Inter 2-0 Hibernian, HT. I feel it could have easily been 4-0, with a less wasteful FW than Elisa Polli. She can score amazing goals, but she can also miss a lot.
Annamaria Serturini had successful surgery for her ruptured ACL, but she of course will be out for the season. As it was predictible, Inter was indeed back on the market: they just signed 22 yo Nikée Dianá van Dijk, from Twente, but of course she can't be used yet in this round of Europa Cup.
Basically first shot by Hibernian (indeed by Kathleen McGovern) at 57', a little high but quite good. Edit: and again Kathleen McGovern one minute after, this time skying the shot, despite being quite well-placed in the box: finally Hibernian are playing this game.
At 60', finally a third Italian on the pitch: Benedetta Glionna replaces Karólína Vilhjálmsdóttir (and Marie Detruyer replaces Olivia Schough).
I had seen it coming: Eilidh Adams scores for Hibernian at 67'. Soon after, Maša Tomašević replaces Elisa Polli.
Long accurate pass by Maša Tomašević and Benedetta Glionna, despite being outnumbered and a lil too moved on the right-side of the box, manages to score her first goal for Inter. 4-1 is sure a score that better reflects what's been seen on the pitch. Soon after Henrietta Csiszár and Chiara Robustellini are subbed-out; Martina Tomaselli and Elisa Bartoli are in. 4 Italian on the picth!
Inter 4-1 Hibernian, FT. Apart from the goal they took, maybe Inter could have avoided picking up three Yellow Card in such a game (Elisa Polli, Chiara Robustellini, Caroline Pleidrup). Anyway, Hibernian never looked overly worrying and now they're even less for the return-match.
Highlights of the game (that I have already commented while watching it; anyway not much to see here, Inter will comfortably advance as it was easily predictable ): Today, at 20:30, UEFA WCL's Roma vs Sporting CP will take place.
Starting line-ups of the game: ROMA (3-5-2): Lukášová; Di Guglielmo, Valdezate, Veje; Bergamaschi, Rieke, Giugliano, Greggi, Pilgrim; Haavi, Babajide On the bench: Baldi, Soggiu, Heatley, Kühl, Corelli, Oladipo, Pante, Pandini, Thøgersen, Van Diemen, Galli, Mar. Cherubini Coach Luca Rosettini SPORTING CP (3-5-2): Catarina Potra; Eaton-Collins, Barron, Érica Cancelinha; Beatriz Fonseca, Joana Martins, Arques, Cláudia Neto, Armengol; Ana Capeta, Telma Encarnação. On the bench: Woźniak, Hernandez Gray, Rita Fontemanha, Pérez, Haugen, Carolina Santiago, Bonsegundo, Cherry, Matilde Nave, Leonete Correia. Coach Micael Sequeira I thought Rachele Baldi was going to be the #1 starter in Roma, this season, but it looks like, at least in Champions' League, Olivie Lukášová is preferred. Rest of the team looks quite predictable, although I would like to see Alice Corelli start and I wonder if Giulia Galli, who look in an excellent form, will get some substantial minutes as a sub, despite being just 17. 4 italian players on the pitch, so far, and all Italy NT members (Lucia Di Guglielmo, Manuela Giugliano, Giada Greggi, Valentina Bergamaschi). Sporting has Cláudia Neto (37 yo! ) and Telma Encarnação, that I seem to remember had done quite good at the Euro 2025. Other well-known name, although just on the bench, at least at the beginning, is Argentinian Florencia Bonsegundo. The match is streamed on AS Roma's You Tube channel (not sure if it's geo-blocked or free-for-all ) and will start in less than an half-hour:
At 23', Lucia Di Guglielmo scores from a Corner-Kick's action. It was about time, since Roma had had some half-good chances, in particular one very close to the post with Annalena Rieke (just one dangerous shot from Sporting instead), and a general dominance. In the action that led to the winning CK, Emilie Haavi passed Cláudia Neto at double the speed.
1-0 at HT. Among the players that I didn't know very well, I especially liked Rinsola Babajide, who looks quite fast and technical and is very willing to press and to always trouble opponent's defense. Annalena Rieke was tough in the midfield (even too much: she eard a YC and she sometimes looked a litttle too much rough). Roma didn't have many actual clear-cut chances, but anyway looked in control of the game. Another goal would anyway be needed to avoid heartaches (in this match and in the return-one).
Rinsola Babajide and Annalena Rieke are out at 52': they are replaced dy Alice Corelli and Marta Pandini (6 Italians out of 11 right now! ).
Spectacular action by Emilie Haavi at 72', but she only hit the inner post! Soon after Sporting's GK is on the ground for a "time out". Meanwhile, Giulia Galli replaces Alayah Pilgrim (that's what I wanted! ) and Frederikke Thøgersen replaces Valentina Bergamaschi.
Roma are suffering in the last 10' minutes: they are clearly tired and Sporting have become dangerous. Meanwhile, at 87', Kathrine Kühl replaces Emilie Haavi. YC for Giada Greggi and Arques of Sporting. Giada Greggi is being precious in retrieving balls in this final, but Sporting are always in Roma's half and are collecting Corner Kicks.
Sporting scores with 2nd Half Santiago at 90'+2'! It was clearly coming, the coach should have tried something more substantial, although you can't do much if the team is gassed.
1-2 Sporting at 90'+2' with Telma Encarnação. A complete disaster! How to throw away a game in 15' minutes. Now it would need a miracle in Lisbona, I'd say.