Juventus: All you need to know about Bayern’s UEFA Women’s Champions League opponents

Juventus know just what it takes to become a top team in your country in a short space of time. There has only been a women’s team at the Turin giants for eight years, but they have quickly established themselves as a leading force in Italian football.

The Old Lady now come to Munich on Thursday for the second game of the league phase in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. fcbayern.com brings you the lowdown on Juventus, their current form and who Bayern need to watch out for at the Campus.

Juventus’ path to the top

Compared to other European countries, women’s football took some time to establish itself in Italy. It was only in 2015 that the Italian FA allowed men’s clubs to officially include women’s teams in their structures. Juventus were quick to take that up, creating a youth section for girls and women that same year. However, it took two more years for the Turin club to fully establish a professional team. On 1 July 2017, Juventus took over the right to play in Serie A from Cuneo Calcio – a date that marks the beginning of a new dominant force. Le Bianconere claimed the title in their very first season, winning 22 and drawing only two of their 24 matches to mark their arrival on the biggest domestic stage in style.

Invincibles and (almost) unstoppable

That dominance continued over the following five seasons as Juventus lifted the title again and again. They made history in 2020/21 by becoming the first team in Italy to achieve a perfect campaign, winning all 22 of their matches, not dropping a single point. That record is far more than a simple statistic. It underlines Juventus’ dominance of the ever increasing professional Italian game.

After a two-year drought where Roma claimed the title in 2023 and 2024, Le Bianconere regained their crown last season. However, this campaign has got off to a rocky start. An opening goalless draw to Sassuolo raised more questions than answers, although they then beat Benfica 2-1 in their first outing of the Champions League’s new league phase. That sense of excitement was quickly undone again by last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Como to leave them without a win in Serie A from two games. 

European experience and struggles

As promising as all the domestic honours have been, Juventus have found the European stage a step too far at times. Their best Champions League finish came three years ago when they reached the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champions Lyon. The following year they were knocked out in the group stage, while they didn’t qualify at all in 2023/24 after defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Turin club also failed to get through the group stage last season, with their two defeats at the hands of Bayern crucial in determining their fate. However, Juventus still hold the Italian record for Women’s Champions League appearances with 38 as they look to establish themselves on the continental stage.

Girelli, Wälti & Co.

The face of Juventus’ rise is Cristiana Girelli. The 35-year-old has been with the club since 2018 and scored 133 goals in 208 league appearances. Italy’s captain was just as assured in front of goal last season, finishing as Serie A’s top scorer once more. She also helped her nation to a historic semi-final spot at the summer’s Euros.

Lia Wälti arrived for this season to bolster the midfield. The Switzerland international knows what it takes to win the Champions League, having done so with Arsenal last season. The 32-year-old is known around Europe for her intelligent play and ability to pull the strings in the centre of the pitch.

Head-to-head favours Bayern

The reigning champions of Germany and Italy have faced each other three times before, with all actually coming last season. A friendly in summer 2024 ended goalless before Bayern claimed victory in both games of the Champions League group stage, winning 2-0 in Turin before a 4-0 triumph back in Munich.

Bayern will host Arsenal at the Allianz Arena in November:

Bayern claimed a vital victory over Wolfsburg at the weekend: