Roma W vs Sassuolo W: Serie A Women Showdown

Stadio Enzo Ricci stages a meeting of extremes on 10 May 2026 as ninth‑placed Sassuolo W host leaders Roma W in Serie A Women. The stakes are clear: Roma are driving towards the title and a Champions League berth, while Sassuolo are still looking over their shoulder in the lower reaches of the table.

In the league, the gap between the sides is stark. Roma sit 1st with 49 points from 20 matches (15 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat) and a +20 goal difference, scoring 39 and conceding 19. Sassuolo are 9th on 17 points from the same number of games, with just 4 wins, 5 draws and 11 defeats, and a goal difference of -14 (16 scored, 30 conceded). It is top against bottom‑end, and the numbers underline it.

Form and momentum

Across all phases this season, Roma’s form line reads “WWWWLWWDWWWDWDWDWWWW” – an outstanding run with only one loss in 20 league fixtures. Away from home they have been particularly ruthless: 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in 10 away games, with 18 goals scored and 11 conceded. They have yet to fail to score in any league match, home or away, and have kept 10 clean sheets overall (5 on their travels).

Sassuolo’s trajectory is almost the mirror opposite. Their season‑long form string “DLWLDLDLWLLLWLLLDLWD” reflects inconsistency and long spells without victories. In the league, they have won only 4 of 20, and at home their record is especially fragile: 2 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats from 10 games. They have scored just 3 home goals all season in Serie A Women, at an average of 0.3 per home game, while conceding 12 (1.2 per match).

That attacking bluntness at Enzo Ricci is reinforced by their “failed to score” metric: Sassuolo have failed to find the net in 7 of 10 home fixtures and 9 matches overall. By contrast, Roma’s “failed to score” tally is 0 – they have scored in every league game.

Tactical outlook: systems and styles

Sassuolo have experimented tactically, which reflects a side still searching for balance. Their most used shape is 3‑4‑1‑2 (5 matches), but they have also deployed 4‑3‑3 (3), 4‑1‑3‑2 (2), 4‑1‑4‑1 (1) and 3‑4‑3 (1). The three‑at‑the‑back systems suggest a desire to shore up defensively and protect central areas, especially against stronger opponents. However, the output is modest: 16 goals in 20 games (0.8 per match across all venues).

Roma, by contrast, are clearly defined. Their primary formation is 4‑3‑3 (8 matches), with occasional use of 4‑1‑4‑1 and 4‑4‑2 (2 each). The 4‑3‑3 underpins their attacking numbers: 39 goals at an average of 2.0 per game, with 2.1 per match at home and 1.8 away. They combine that with defensive control, conceding just 19 (1.0 per match) and maintaining long winning streaks – their biggest winning run is four consecutive victories.

Sassuolo’s defensive structure has produced some resilience in phases. They have kept 6 clean sheets (4 at home), and their heaviest home defeat in the league is 0-3. But the “biggest loses” metrics – 0-3 at home and 4-0 away – show that when the structure breaks, it can break badly. Roma’s biggest away win is 1-3, and their only away defeat was 5-2, indicating that even when they lose, they still carry attacking threat.

Discipline may also play a role. Roma have picked up a red card in the 16‑30 minute band this season, while Sassuolo have no reds recorded. However, yellow card distributions for both sides are spread fairly evenly across the match, suggesting neither is especially reckless but both can be tested under pressure.

Key players and penalty detail

The standout individual in the data is Roma midfielder Manuela Giugliano. She has 8 league goals and 2 assists in 19 appearances, with a strong average rating of 7.62. Her influence is broad: 29 shots (15 on target), 396 passes with 19 key passes, and a decent duel output (25 duels won from 48). She also contributes defensively with 16 tackles. From the penalty spot, Giugliano has scored 3 penalties and missed 0 this season, and Roma as a team have a perfect 4 penalties scored from 4 taken, with no misses recorded.

For Sassuolo, Lana Clelland is a crucial attacking reference point. In 14 appearances (12 starts), she has 3 goals and 1 assist, with 19 shots (12 on target) and 9 key passes from 112 total passes. Her 7.21 rating reflects that when Sassuolo do create, she is often central. She has not taken or scored any penalties in the league data provided, so Sassuolo’s spot‑kick duties lie elsewhere, but as a pure attacking outlet, Clelland’s presence is vital.

Sassuolo’s overall penalty record is also perfect in the small sample: 2 penalties taken, 2 scored, 0 missed. With both sides 100% from the spot this season and Giugliano flawless individually, any penalty awarded could be decisive.

Head‑to‑head: recent history

The last five competitive meetings (league and cups, excluding friendlies) are heavily weighted in Roma’s favour:

• 18 January 2026, Serie A Women, Stadio Tre Fontane (Rome): Roma W 2-1 Sassuolo W – Roma win.
• 14 September 2025, Serie A Cup Women group stage, Stadio Tre Fontane (Rome): Roma W 3-0 Sassuolo W – Roma win.
• 5 March 2025, Coppa Italia Women semi‑final, Stadio Tre Fontane (Roma): Roma W 3-0 Sassuolo W – Roma win.
• 15 February 2025, Coppa Italia Women semi‑final, Stadio Enzo Ricci (Sassuolo): Sassuolo W 1-3 Roma W – Roma win.
• 24 November 2024, Serie A Women, Stadio Enzo Ricci (Sassuolo): Sassuolo W 1-1 Roma W – draw.

Across these five matches, Roma have 4 wins, Sassuolo have 0, and there has been 1 draw. Roma have scored 14 goals and conceded 3, with Roma winning both previous visits to Enzo Ricci in this sequence (1-3 and the 1-1 draw being the only non‑win).

Home and away dynamics

At Stadio Enzo Ricci this season, Sassuolo’s record of 2-2-6 with only 3 goals scored is one of the weakest home attacks in the division. Their average of 0.3 goals per home game contrasts sharply with Roma’s 1.8 goals per away match. Roma’s away record of 8 wins in 10, combined with 5 away clean sheets, sets up a clear pattern: they travel well, score regularly, and often control games defensively.

Sassuolo’s best hope lies in their occasional defensive solidity – 4 home clean sheets – and in exploiting any rare off‑day from Roma. Their biggest home win is 1-0, indicating that if they are to take points, it is more likely to come via a tight, low‑scoring contest than an open shoot‑out.

The verdict

All available data points towards Roma W entering this fixture as strong favourites. They are top of the league, prolific in attack, and reliable away from home. Sassuolo W are struggling near the bottom, particularly in front of their own fans, and recent head‑to‑head results have been overwhelmingly in Roma’s favour.

Tactically, Roma’s settled 4‑3‑3, the creative and goalscoring influence of Manuela Giugliano, and their consistent ability to score in every match give them multiple routes to victory. Sassuolo will likely need a disciplined, compact display, leaning on their three‑at‑the‑back structures and on Lana Clelland’s finishing, to disrupt the leaders.

On balance, Roma’s superior form, firepower and historical edge over Sassuolo suggest an away win is the most probable outcome, with the leaders well placed to reinforce their title credentials at Stadio Enzo Ricci.