Fiorentina Women’s do the double

In just their second season, AC Fiorentina Women’s (to give them their full title) have done the domestic double. This means we’ll be seeing the first new additions to the Viola trophy case since the men’s side won the Coppa Italia in 2001. It’s the first scudetto to find its way to Florence since the triumph in 1969.

The team didn’t just scrape its way to glory, though, so let’s look at a few of the numbers. This team lost one match. It didn’t draw any. And it won the remaining 21, including every home fixture. They only conceded 7 goals all season and knocked in 88 for a plus/minus rating of 81, which is what happens when you play FIFA at the lowest difficulty setting. And rather than being a bunch of international mercenaries, the whole team is Italian except for goalkeeper Stéphanie Öhrström and defender Sara Nordin, who’s since moved to Umeå FK. And before anyone accuses the only fully professional women’s club in Italy of buying up all the domestic talent, it’s worth noting that Fiorentina Women’s only has two representatives with the Azzure right now.

Or maybe you’d rather look at the individual brilliance rather than team dominance. How about the awe-inspiring attack of Tatiana Bonetti, Ilaria Mauro, and Patrizia Caccamo, who scored 51 goals between them, putting to rest any concern that the team lacked teeth after the departure of living legend Patrizia Panico?

Or what the heck, let’s just check out some highlights, huh? Maybe we can start with this 0-5 thrashing of second-place Brescia.

Maybe you’d rather see the brilliant team goal that opened the scoring in the 2-0 win over Tavagnacco.

Or see the pure raw force of scoring all three goals from set pieces against Res Roma.

Or maybe you’d rather see them score early against Brescia in the Coppa final, then hang on for the remainder of an ultra-tense thriller to walk away with the cup and complete the double.

Yes, they make it all look too easy sometimes, but don’t worry. Next season should be way more exciting, as the Viola women make their Champions League debut. And things at home should be fascinating, as well, as Juventus have stated their intention to field a fully professional women’s team next season as well, which should kick off another facet of this brilliant rivalry.

But for now, let’s revel in the double and gape in amazement at Fiorentina Women’s, which has steamrolled every possible opponent on the peninsula with grace, power, and style. It’s been a heck of a year, folks.