Serie A returns this weekend with Monza playing host to Udinese at the Brianteo on Friday.
Venue: Brianteo (Monza)
Key Statistics
Monza have conceded eight goals across their last three competitive games this season.
The hosts have conceded goals from 50% of the shots they have faced, having faced 16 shots.
Udinese have won five of their last six away league matches against a promoted team (L1).
The visitors conceded a league-high ten away goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half in 2021/22, also conceding once in the same period in their only trip this season.
Head to head
This is the first meeting between both sides in the top flight.
Latest performances in all competition
Monza: L-L-W-W-W
Udinese: D-L-W-L-L
Monza
After being promoted to Serie A, newcomers Monza have endured a harsh welcome to the Italian top flight.
The hosts have lost their opening two games of the campaign by a combined 6-1 after being beaten 4-0 by Napoli in their last game.
They come into this tie sitting at the bottom of the league table and with a big mountain to climb to ensure that they survive another season in the top flight. Head coach Giovanni Stroppa will be scratching his head, looking for a way to turn the situation around early in the season to avoid a catastrophic situation where the Lombardy-based club will become fully embroiled in a relegation fight for the rest of the season.
There is also pressure growing on the coach from the top. Having invested heavily in the squad, the ambitious club president and CEO duo of Berlusconi-Galliani are already asking questions.
And so the hosts will be desperate to show what they are capable of in this game. However, injuries to former Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia and left-back Carlos Augusto have complicated the situation for Stroppa whose side have conceded eight goals across their three competitive outings this term.
Possible Monza starting line-up
Michele Di Gregorio; Marlon Santos, Valentin Antov, Andrea Carboni; Samuele Birindelli, Filippo Ranocchia, Andrea Berberis, Stefano Sensi, Salvatore Molina; Gianluca Caprari, Andrea Petagna.
Injured: Danny Mota, Andrea Ranocchia, Pablo Mari, Marco D’Alessandro
Doubtful: Carlos Augusto
Suspended: None
Udinese
Udinese will look to win their first game of the season when they travel to Lombardy on Friday.
The visitors have failed to win any of their opening games of this season. They opened their account with a disappointing 4-2 loss to defending champions AC Milan before following it up with a goalless draw with Salernitana last weekend.
Having lost just one of their last six away games (the 4-2 loss to AC Milan), Andrea Sottil’s men will come into this tie confident of getting a good result.
They have lost just one of their last six away games to newly promoted sides (W5) and so, should be able to easily win this game.
Possible Udinese starting line-up
Marco Silvestri; Rodrigo Becao, Bram Nuytinck, Adam Masina; Festy Ebosele, Roberto Pereyra, Walace, Jean-Victor Makengo, Destiny Udogie; Gerard Deulofeu, Isaac Success.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Leonardo Buta, Mato Jajalo
Suspended: Nehuen Perez
Prediction
Monza 1-3 Udinese
