Three goals, one shirt, one story: Como Women bid farewell to Alia Guagni with the number of the iconic footballer. Sottili's team defeats Napoli 3-1 on the last day of the championship

At the “Ferruccio” in Seregno, on Sunday 11th May 2025, not only did the last match of the women's Serie A championship between Como Women and Napoli take place, but also a special day, filled with festivity and gratitude. Alia Guagni, one of the most representative figures in Italian women's football, chose the Como Women shirt to bid farewell to the game and close a career spanning over twenty years.

Amidst applause, hugs, and many emotions, the club and her teammates paid tribute to an athlete and a woman who, even in these months spent by the lake, left a deep mark, today on the field wearing the captain's armband. 

A banner made by her teammates, a jersey autographed by everyone, and a family-like and sincere atmosphere accompanied the last step of a career full of passion, sacrifices, and many successes.

Guests in the stands

Many guests were present in the stands for this last day of the championship with a festive flavour: from the Mercury/13 leadership, with Victoire Cogevina Reynal and Mario Malavè (co-CEO and co-founders of Mercury/13) and Eniola Aluko MBE (investor & advisor of the group), to the President of Como Women Stefano Verga and the entire club leadership.
Also present were many journalists, former players, and many other personalities from the world of football and beyond who wanted to be there for Alia Guagni's final farewell to football. All this in front of the eyes of her family and friends, who came in large numbers from Florence to celebrate the moment.

The match

The Lario girls immediately took the lead with Karlernäs in the 11th minute, skilfully finishing off a team action initiated by Marcussen and continued by Nischler. However, the Neapolitans quickly responded and equalised two minutes later with Lundorf, who surprised Marcussen at the back post. Como regained the lead with Kerr in the 35th minute, perfectly served by Nischler after a high ball recovery. In the second half, there was room for the third goal in the 73rd minute with Nischler, who sealed the score and signed her eleventh goal of the season with an elegant chip. With this 3-1 victory, Sottili's team concluded the championship with 38 points, their all-time high in Serie A. 

Alia Guagni's words during the farewell press conference:

“Over these years, I've tried to give everything. It wasn't easy, and it won't be in the years to come either, but I hope that, thanks to what I've done and what many others have done, some girls today might have a slightly smoother path. That was our goal.”

On the future and family: “Until today, I have practically lived only for football. All my dreams were linked to this sport. Now I have a new one: to build a family. I come from a beautiful and close-knit family, and this is what I dream for my future too. Motherhood. At the moment, this is my priority. Then we shall see what comes. Many have asked me, 'Are you ready to become a mum?'. It is a question that struck me deeply. I think it is a natural step, but also a very exciting one. My parents? They have always supported me in everything: in every choice, both in sport and in life. They have been my strength, in every sense. When I couldn't live off football, they still allowed me to try. They have always been my drive, my rock.”

On the shirt-CV and the campaign dedicated to the future of athletes after their sports career: “This shirt is very special. It's a sort of curriculum, even though until now I never needed it. But it represents an important reality: many female footballers, once they stop playing, have to reinvent themselves. It's an emotionally difficult moment, because you don't quite know what to do. With this shirt, we want to send a message: let's help athletes build a future even after football. We hope this can change the mindset and the way things are perceived.”

Finally, on the decision to retire: “I have chosen to stop now, even when everyone is telling me not to. But I felt this was the right moment. I like the idea of closing in this way, while there are still those who would have liked to see me on the field until the last second.”

The statements of Stefano Sottili and Katja Schroffenegger

Stefano Sottili's words on the day, from the victory celebration to the farewell to Alia Guagni: “All the conditions were right for it to be this way. The girls, apart from the rightly festive atmosphere, played a serious match, they struggled: it was hot, it was the first real match with the summer heat. I am happy that everything went well, that there was a good performance, a victory, and above all, that the career of a girl, not only talented but also a really important player for the whole women's movement, has concluded. I am glad to have had the good fortune to meet her in July, although, as I said during the week, I would have liked to coach her earlier. She is a player with different qualities, even compared to the current landscape. I believe her career and her appearances in the top leagues — because she has not only played in Italy, but also abroad — clearly demonstrate this.

A review of the season: “It has been an excellent season. I don't know what will happen next year, but I think from here one can only continue to grow. I hope the club is aware of it, but I am confident they will do everything to ensure that this represents only a starting point.”

The words of Katja Schroffenegger, making her league debut with Como Women shirt after a long injury: “It’s been a year with many lows and few highs; many highs in the last two months, but before that it was tough. It was great just to see my teammates having a great season, and today finally I’m also here. I am very happy about today. I think the weather even turned sunny for us and for Alia. I am very happy and especially to finally be able to say that I am well”.

Match Summary

Como Women Line-up: 1.⁠ ⁠Schroffenegger; 3 Guagni (52’ Bergersen), 24 Rizzon, 17 Sagen, 2 Marcussen; 16 Karlernäs (58’ Bou Salas), 20 Vaitukaitytė, 21 Picchi; 33 Kramzar (81’ D’Agostino), 7 Nischler (71’ Conc); 28 Kerr (57’ Del Estal). Coach: Stefano Sottili

Available Substitutes: 4 Hansen, 12 Aprile, 22 Gilardi, 25 Marchiori, 30 Ruma, 36 Soggiu.

Napoli Line-up: 1 Beretta, 2 Lundorf (70’ Pellinghelli), 27 Santoro, 44 Pettenuzzo (71’ Sliskovic), 67 Giordano; 8 Breitner, 23 Bellucci, 90 Langella (45’ Di Giammarino); 19 Sciabica (71’ Jelcic), 10 Banusic, 9 Kullashi (87’ Andrup). Coach: David Sassarini

Available Substitutes: 3 Sandvej, 5 Di Marino, 7 Novellino, 13 Muth, 28 Moretti, 42 Bacic.

Goalscorers: 11’ Karlernäs (Como Women), 13’ Lundorf (Napoli), 35’ Kerr (Como Women), 73’ Nischler (Como Women)

Yellow Cards: 51’ Breitner (Napoli), 77’ Sliskovic (Napoli), 84’ Vaitukaitytė (Como Women)

Red Cards: 0

MVP: Nischler (Como Women)

Referee and Assistants: Felipe Salvatore Viapiana, Riccardo Leotta, Manfredi Scribani, Maicol Guiotto