Sassuolo W vs Roma W: Serie A Women Showdown on May 10, 2026

Stadio Enzo Ricci sets the stage on 10 May 2026 for a meeting of opposites in Serie A Women: a relegation-threatened Sassuolo W hosting league leaders Roma W. With the regular season entering its decisive phase, the stakes are clear. Sassuolo sit 9th with 17 points from 20 games, still looking over their shoulder, while Roma arrive as front-runners on 49 points, targeting the title and consolidating their Champions League-bound position.

Context and stakes

In the league, Sassuolo’s numbers underline the scale of their task. They have taken just 4 wins from 20 matches (4-5-11), with a goal difference of -14 (16 scored, 30 conceded). At home, the picture is even starker: only 2 wins in 10, with 3 goals scored and 12 conceded. That is an average of 0.3 goals for and 1.2 against per home game.

Roma, by contrast, have been relentlessly consistent. They top the table with 15 wins, 4 draws and just 1 defeat (39 goals for, 19 against). Away from home they have been outstanding: 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss on the road, scoring 18 and conceding 11. Their away attack averages 1.8 goals per game, while they concede 1.1.

Form trends reinforce the gulf. Across all phases, Sassuolo’s sequence reads “DLWLDLDLWLLLWLLLDLWD” – a run marked by short, broken positive spells and too many defeats. Their official league form line of “DWLDL” confirms the inconsistency. Roma’s overall form string “WWWWLWWDWWWDWDWDWWWW” and league form “WWWWD” show a side that almost never drops their level and very rarely loses.

Tactical outlook: Sassuolo’s survival plan

Sassuolo’s season profile suggests a team built first on damage limitation at home. They have kept 4 home clean sheets in the league, but that has come at the cost of attacking threat: they have failed to score in 7 of their 10 home fixtures. Their total of 3 home goals all season is the lowest kind of output that forces them into low-risk, compact game plans.

The statistics hint at a side that has experimented structurally to find balance. Across all phases they have used multiple shapes, with 3-4-1-2 their most common (5 matches), followed by 4-3-3 (3), and then 4-1-3-2 and 4-1-4-1. The 3-4-1-2 points to a back three with wing-backs and a dedicated link player between midfield and attack, designed to protect central zones while still offering counter-attacking outlets.

Given Roma’s attacking power, Sassuolo are likely to lean on that back-three structure again, prioritising compactness, crowding the central channels and trying to force Roma wide. Their “biggest wins” data – 1-0 at home, 0-3 away – suggests that when they do win, it is by narrow margins and often built on defensive solidity. The fact they have 6 clean sheets in total but only 16 goals scored overall reinforces the idea of a low-scoring, risk-averse side.

In transition, the key figure is likely to be attacker Lana Clelland. With 3 goals and 1 assist in 14 league appearances, she is Sassuolo’s most productive forward in the top-scorer list. Her 19 shots (12 on target) and 9 key passes show she is both a finisher and a creator when given service. She has also drawn 11 fouls, indicating she can win free-kicks and relieve pressure by holding the ball up.

Sassuolo’s penalty record in the league – 2 taken, 2 scored, none missed – indicates composure from the spot, though Clelland has not scored any penalties herself. If this becomes a tight, attritional match, those small margins could matter.

Roma’s blueprint: control and incision

Roma arrive with a clear, well-established identity. Their most-used formation is 4-3-3 (8 matches), with 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-2 also appearing in their tactical toolkit. The 4-3-3 aligns perfectly with their numbers: a high-scoring side (39 in 20) that still keeps a strong defensive platform (19 conceded, 10 clean sheets).

They have not failed to score once in the league this season – 0 games without a goal, home or away. That reliability in front of goal is underpinned by a spread of attacking contributions, but the standout in the data is midfielder Manuela Giugliano. With 8 goals and 2 assists in 19 appearances and a rating of 7.62, she is one of the league’s most influential players.

Giugliano’s 29 shots (15 on target) underline her threat from distance and around the box, while 19 key passes and 396 total passes show her importance in Roma’s build-up and chance creation. She is not just a finisher; she is a creative hub, dictating tempo and supplying the front line. Defensively, her 16 tackles and 25 duels won add another layer to Roma’s midfield control.

From the spot, Giugliano has scored 3 penalties without a miss, and Roma as a team have converted 4 out of 4 penalties in the league. That gives them a reliable route to goal in high-pressure moments.

Roma’s “biggest wins” data – 4-0 at home, 1-3 away – and their longest winning streak of 4 matches confirm their ability to impose themselves both at Tre Fontane and on their travels. Their only heavy defeat (5-2 away) looks more like an outlier than a pattern, given their otherwise tight defensive averages.

Head-to-head: Roma dominance

The last five competitive meetings between these sides, across league and cups, underline Roma’s upper hand:

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

Across these five, Roma have 4 wins, Sassuolo have 0, and there has been 1 draw. Notably, Roma have won both of the last two visits to Enzo Ricci, 3-1 in the cup and previously held to a 1-1 draw in the league.

Discipline and game rhythm

Card data hints at how the match might flow. Sassuolo’s yellow cards cluster late, with the highest share between minutes 76-90, suggesting fatigue or pressure-induced fouls as games wear on. Roma’s bookings are more evenly spread across the 16-60 minute range, pointing to an aggressive, front-foot style from early on. Roma also have a single red card in the 16-30 minute range across the season, a reminder that their intensity can occasionally spill over.

Given Roma’s dominance of possession in most games (implied by their passing and scoring profile) and Sassuolo’s low scoring and high “failed to score” count, the pattern is likely to be Roma controlling territory and ball, Sassuolo defending deep and hoping to counter or profit from set-pieces.

The verdict

All available data points towards Roma W as strong favourites. They are top of the league, prolific in attack, solid in defence, unbeaten away in 9 of 10 league trips, and have a clear psychological edge from recent head-to-head results.

For Sassuolo W, the path to a result is narrow but not non-existent: they must lean on their better defensive displays at home, aim for one of their low-scoring, clean-sheet performances, and rely on the individual quality of Lana Clelland to make rare chances count. Their improved away scoring record (13 of their 16 league goals have come on the road) underlines how much they struggle to create at Enzo Ricci; changing that narrative is essential.

Roma, with Manuela Giugliano orchestrating from midfield and a 4-3-3 that has functioned smoothly all season, have the tools to break down a low block and maintain their title charge. Unless Sassuolo can produce one of their best defensive displays of the campaign and find an unusual cutting edge at home, the balance of probability suggests Roma will extend both their lead at the top and their dominance in this fixture.