The Women’s First Team finished the 2025/26 season in eighth place in Lega Nazionale B, securing their place in the division well ahead of schedule and ending the campaign on an upward trajectory. This was a positive result, particularly given that the season began with some difficulties but then progressed as the squad gradually found its feet.
The start of the season had not, in fact, fully reflected the team’s true potential. The Bianconere needed time to find consistency, rhythm and confidence, partly due to the young age of a squad still maturing. As the weeks went by, however, the team stepped up a gear. “The overall picture is extremely positive. There were a few dips in form, because we’re talking about a very young team, but the girls did well to manage those moments and bounce back immediately,” explained coach Andrea Antonelli.
From October onwards, the team began to recognise its potential more clearly. “The girls realised that the league table didn’t reflect their true potential. Something clicked in their minds: they wanted to prove that they were worth much more than that. They pulled together, worked with dedication, enthusiasm and determination, and ultimately managed to achieve an excellent result.”
MENTALITY AND AWARENESS
Another highlight of the season was the team’s run in the AXA Women’s Cup, where they reached the round of 16 and faced the defending champions, FC Zurich. Despite the defeat, that match confirmed the Bianconere’s ability to hold their own against a higher-ranked opponent, demonstrating organisation, determination and character.
The most important sign, however, came towards the end of the season. Despite having already secured their place in the league, the team continued to take to the pitch with determination, finishing the Relegation Group with some impressive results: from a 10-0 win against FC Solothurn to a 3-2 victory in the final match against Etoile Carouge. “It was right to honour the league right to the end, not least because there were teams fighting to stay in National League B,” recalled Antonelli. “We showed excellent character. It’s clear that playing without pressure helped us, but our consistent performances have once again confirmed the strength of this team.”
CORNAREDO AND THE FUTURE
The latest victory also held symbolic significance. The women’s first team were, in fact, the last side to play an official match at the historic Cornaredo stadium, bidding farewell with a late winner. “Being the last team to tread that historic pitch was incredibly moving. There was so much enthusiasm and, fortunately, it will also remain a fond memory, because we managed to win the final match right at the end.”
From the farewell to Cornaredo, the attention of all women’s football fans then turned to the new AIL Arena, which hosted its first ever match: Switzerland v Malta. A significant milestone for the women’s game in the region, as Anotelli also emphasised: “Hosting the women’s national team at the new AIL Arena is something special. An event like this can only be good for the sport, helping to give further visibility to a scene that is already on the rise.”
The women’s first team’s season therefore ended with survival secured, a more self-aware squad and solid foundations on which to build the future. The coming season must start right here: from the progress shown in the second half of the league campaign and the ability to turn this consistency into a further step forward. “We’ll start again from a solid foundation,” concluded Antonelli. “I’m sure we’ll continue with a strong core, the one that performed so well this year.”