Stalemate in Sesto San Giovanni: Inter Milano W Held by Resolute Parma as Title Hopes Tempered
It was a crisp October afternoon in Sesto San Giovanni, but though the autumn sun cast a golden hue over the Stadio Ernesto Breda, neither Inter Milano Women nor Parma Women could pierce the gloom of a scoreless draw that may prove more telling than the final scoreline suggests. Seldom do goalless matches linger, yet this one—played to a tactical stalemate—may resonate in the weeks to come for both teams as they navigate the early turbulence of the Serie A Women season.
Inter Milano W entered Sunday’s match with a formidable wind at their backs. The Nerazzurre had thundered through the season’s opening weeks, registering multi-goal routs in both domestic and European play. Their last five outings had yielded a staggering 20 goals, with victories over Vllaznia in UEFA Europa Cup action (5-0 away, 7-0 at home) and a clinical 5-0 demolition of Ternana domestically. Even when challenged—a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina—Inter’s attack had found answers, with the likes of Evelyn Polli and Haley Bugeja regularly featuring among the scorers.
They arrived at their home ground perched fourth in the standings, a single point behind pace-setters, with every intention of keeping up the chase. Parma, by contrast, began the day in tenth—an early season position that belied a side still searching for its identity. Their campaign had opened inauspiciously with a 0-4 defeat at the hands of Roma, but a narrow 2-1 victory on home turf against Sassuolo hinted at a team capable of more than their table position suggested.
Sunday, though, the anticipated gulf in form and firepower closed almost as soon as the whistle blew. Inter pressed early, buoyed by their recent scoring sprees, but Parma’s disciplined back line, marshaled by a determined center-half pairing, absorbed the pressure with poise. In the twelfth minute, Bugeja—a constant threat in Inter’s recent routs—threaded a clever ball to Polli, who lashed her shot inches wide. Moments later, a curling free kick from Tomaselli forced Parma’s goalkeeper into a fingertip save at the far post.
Parma’s response was measured and, at times, perilous for the hosts. Just past the half-hour, a surging Parma counterattack saw their right winger break free, delivering a low cross that fizzed through the six-yard box, narrowly eluding a finishing touch. That sequence set the tone for a match of half-chances and mounting frustration, as Parma’s structure nullified Inter’s rhythm and forced them repeatedly into wide areas, where their crossing failed to unlock the defense.
The second half brought more urgency from the Nerazzurre. Inter’s coach made a double substitution before the hour, introducing fresh attacking legs in an effort to exploit Parma's tiring midfield. Yet for all their possession—Inter enjoyed more than 60 percent throughout the afternoon—the quality of the final ball deserted them. Bugeja, so prolific in midweek European action, found herself contained, often with two defenders shadowing her every movement. Polli, too, faded as space evaporated in the congested final third.
The key turning point arrived in the 72nd minute, when Inter appeared to have finally broken through Parma’s resistance. A quick interchange at the top of the box released Glionna, who rifled a shot toward the bottom corner. Parma’s goalkeeper, reacting sharply, parried the effort onto the post—a moment that brought the crowd to its feet but left the score unaltered. As tempers frayed, the referee reached for yellow on both sides, but discipline largely held and the match saw out its closing stages without major incident or sending-off.
For Inter, the final whistle brought a rare taste of frustration. A side that had battered opponents at will found itself stymied by a Parma team that refused to yield, even as Inter’s unbeaten start stretched to two league matches. The draw moves the Nerazzurre to four points—still in the upper echelon of the table, but with the chasing pack compressing. For Parma, the point represents valuable ballast at the foot of the standings. Emerging from Breda unscathed, they move to three points, putting early daylight between themselves and the bottom rung.
Recent head-to-head contests between these sides have tended to favor Inter, but Parma’s resilience on Sunday hinted at a growing confidence and promise under their current regime. If today’s match offered few fireworks, it underscored the parity and unpredictability emerging in this season’s Serie A Women.
With Europe beckoning and the domestic calendar unrelenting, Inter must rediscover their attacking verve and find new solutions when confronted with well-drilled defenses. For Parma, the draw is more than just a point; it is a statement of intent—and perhaps a warning to their peers that this season, the margins will be thin, and the battles fierce. As the leaves continue to fall on Serie A’s opening act, every point, and every performance, begins to take on the weight of consequence.