Sassuolo-Inter 3-0: Nerazzurre storm the Mapei and set their sights on the title
A night to remember for Inter Women. At the Mapei Stadium – temporarily rechristened a "blue-and-black fortress" for the occasion – mister Piovani's girls (the one on the bench, not her namesake midfielder) gave Sassuolo no quarter and landed a result that feels like gold: a resounding 3-0, a superb performance, and a (virtual) draw level at the top. The Serie A Femminile title race is well and truly alight, and the duel with Roma is heating up.
Wullaert show and an iron defence: the Sassuolo-Inter review
The first half was a masterclass from the visitors. Inter pulled all the strings; Sassuolo dug in but finally cracked on 28 minutes: Tessa Wullaert – the usual tormentor of defences – produced a perfectly timed run and smashed it home with her right foot, leaving the keeper with no chance. The second half followed the same script. On 56 minutes, Elisa Piovani towered above everyone to head home from a corner and double the lead. The third goal was a thing of collective beauty: a slick move from the back, a sharp exchange on the edge of the box, and a pinpoint through ball for a substitute to coolly slot past the home goalkeeper. Three-nil and game over. If you're after a review of the match, three words sum it up: intensity, clinical finishing, and solidity. Inter gave a lesson in modern football.
The title race heats up: four points off Roma, the pressure mounts
With these three points, Inter move up to 46, just four behind league leaders Roma (who have a game in hand). The message is loud and clear: the Giallorosse have been warned. After the match, Piovani (the midfielder) didn't hide her excitement: "We're a fantastic group; this win gives us a huge boost. We have to believe in this all the way." And Wullaert added with a smile: "We want to reach the top, and tonight we've taken a giant stride."
Here are the three key factors in the match:
- The blue-and-black wall: Sassuolo failed to register a single shot on target, completely neutralised by a flawless Inter defence.
- Wullaert-Piovani, a 10/10 duo: goals and assists, but also a shift put in without the ball. A real example for everyone.
- Game management: after going 2-0 up, Inter controlled the tempo without ever losing their grip on the game, conserving energy for the final stretch of the season.
How to use this win: a guide for the final run-in
Now comes the exciting part. The head-to-head clash with Roma is just around the corner, and this performance provides the perfect guide on how to approach the upcoming games: high press, lightning counter-attacks, and ruthless finishing. If Inter can maintain this standard, a comeback is more than possible. For now, let's just savour this one for the scrapbook – a Sassuolo-Inter night to remember, one of those that makes you fall in love with women's football. The title race is wide open, and the Nerazzurre are right in it.