Ternana W vs AC Milan W: Serie A Women Showdown

Stadio Libero Liberati hosts a high‑stakes clash on 17 May 2026 as Ternana W welcome AC Milan W in the final round of the Serie A Women regular season. The stakes are very different at each end of the table: Ternana sit 11th with 14 points and a goal difference of -22, fighting to escape the bottom places, while Milan arrive in 6th on 32 points, looking to consolidate a solid mid‑table finish and potentially climb.

Both sides are safely in the top flight for now, but the trajectories could hardly be more contrasting. Ternana’s form line in the league reads “LLDLD” across all phases, underlining a season of struggle, whereas Milan’s “WLDWD” points to a more stable, competitive campaign.

Ternana W: fragile but stubborn at home

In the league, Ternana have taken 14 points from 21 matches, with only 3 wins and 5 draws. Their defensive record is a concern: 40 goals conceded, almost 2 per game across all phases. At Stadio Libero Liberati, however, they have been more resilient. The home record (2 wins, 4 draws, 4 defeats) shows they are often competitive in Terni: 14 goals scored and 17 conceded, averaging 1.4 scored and 1.7 conceded per home match.

Across all phases, Ternana’s season statistics paint a picture of a side that struggles to sustain momentum. Their longest winning streak is just one game, while they have endured losing runs of up to five straight matches. They have kept 4 clean sheets but failed to score in 10 of 21 league outings, which is almost half their schedule.

Tactically, the data suggests a team searching for balance. The most-used formation is 4‑3‑3 (6 times), with 4‑1‑3‑2 also appearing regularly. That points to a preference for a back four and at least three central midfielders, trying to protect a back line that has often been overworked. Card distribution hints at a side that becomes more desperate late on: 22.22% of their yellow cards arrive between minutes 76‑90, and both of their red cards have come in the 31‑45 window, where lapses in discipline have cost them.

One clear strength is from the penalty spot. Team‑level data shows Ternana have scored 6 out of 6 penalties across all phases, a rare area of reliability in an otherwise inconsistent season.

AC Milan W: solid structure and away threat

Milan’s league position (6th) is underpinned by a much healthier goal difference (+6), with 31 scored and 25 conceded in 21 matches. They are balanced home and away: at home they are 5‑3‑3 (18‑15 goals), away they are 4‑2‑4 (13‑10 goals). Across all phases, they average 1.5 goals scored and 1.2 conceded per match, indicating a side that generally controls games without being spectacular.

Their formations tell a clear tactical story. Milan have lined up in a 4‑3‑3 in 10 matches, with occasional switches to 4‑1‑4‑1 and 4‑2‑3‑1. That points to a consistent front three supported by a structured midfield, which helps explain their 7 clean sheets and relatively low tally of 25 goals conceded.

Milan also show good mental resilience away from home: only 10 goals conceded in 10 away matches, and 4 away clean sheets. Their biggest away win in the league is 0‑3, while their heaviest away defeat is a 4‑3 scoreline, suggesting that when they do lose on the road, they still carry attacking punch.

Discipline could be a factor late in the match. 31.58% of their yellow cards come between minutes 76‑90, and they have picked up three red cards across the 46‑90 period. Managing those moments in Terni will be crucial if the match is tight.

Key players and attacking focal points

For Ternana, the standout figure is forward V. Pirone. Across all phases she has 6 goals and 1 assist, from 23 shots (9 on target), with an average rating of 7.22. She has also won 5 penalties, scoring 5 and missing 1, underlining her importance both in open play and in drawing fouls in dangerous areas. Her duel numbers (160 contested, 83 won) show she is heavily involved in physical battles, while 14 key passes and 37 fouls drawn highlight how much of Ternana’s attacking game runs through her.

Behind her, midfielder Giada Cimò offers a crucial link. With 3 goals and 1 assist, 20 shots (12 on target), and 15 key passes from 202 total passes, she provides both creativity and work rate. Her 25 tackles and 72 duels won indicate she is central to Ternana’s attempts to disrupt opponents and launch transitions from midfield.

For Milan, Kayleigh van Dooren is a key attacking midfielder. She has 5 goals from 18 shots (12 on target) and a solid passing profile: 242 passes at 78% accuracy, with 8 key passes. Operating from midfield in Milan’s 4‑3‑3, she offers late runs into the box and shooting threat from central areas. Her disciplinary record includes 1 red card, so her aggression must be channelled carefully in a potentially tense away fixture.

Head‑to‑head: Milan dominance

The recent competitive history is short but one‑sided. The last two meetings, both in 2025, have gone Milan’s way:

• On 25 January 2026 in Milan (Serie A Women, Regular Season – 11), AC Milan W beat Ternana W 3‑0 at Centro Sportivo Peppino Vismara.
• On 14 September 2025 in Milan (Serie A Cup Women, Group Stage – 3), AC Milan W beat Ternana W 2‑1 at Centro Sportivo Peppino Vismara.

Across these two competitive fixtures, Milan have 2 wins, Ternana have 0, and there have been 0 draws. The aggregate score is 5‑1 in Milan’s favour, with both matches played in Milan; this will be the first time in this dataset that Ternana host Milan in a competitive game.

Tactical battle: Ternana’s resistance vs Milan’s structure

Ternana’s route to a result is likely to revolve around compactness, set‑pieces, and Pirone’s penalty‑box instincts. Their 4‑3‑3 can morph into a deeper 4‑5‑1 without the ball, with Cimò tasked to press Milan’s midfield and launch quick counters. Given their struggles away but relative stability at home, expect them to prioritize defensive organisation and look to exploit any lapses in Milan’s back line, particularly late on when Milan’s card count tends to rise.

Milan, with their habitual 4‑3‑3, should look to control possession and pin Ternana back. Van Dooren’s ability to arrive between the lines, combined with a front three that benefits from structured wide play, could stretch a Ternana defence that concedes 1.9 goals per game across all phases. Milan’s away record suggests they are comfortable in tight, controlled matches, and their 7 clean sheets indicate they can close games down once ahead.

The verdict

On form, league position, and head‑to‑head data, AC Milan W enter as clear favourites. They score more, concede less, and have already beaten Ternana twice in 2025, including a 3‑0 league victory. Ternana’s home resilience and the individual quality of Pirone and Cimò give them a puncher’s chance, especially if they can draw on their strong penalty record and keep the game close into the final half‑hour.

However, unless Ternana can significantly improve their defensive solidity and avoid the lapses that have defined their season, Milan’s structured 4‑3‑3 and superior attacking metrics are likely to tell. A competitive match is possible in Terni, but the data points towards an away win, with Milan expected to control territory and chances over the 90 minutes.