Saturday’s Serie A action closes out at the Stadio Brianteo as Monza’s bid to avoid a swift return to the second tier continues against top-four hopefuls Inter.
Promoted Monza returned to Serie A action in 2023 with a keenly-contested 1-1 draw at Fiorentina, with Carlos Augusto’s half-volley on the stroke of the hour mark canceling out Arthur Cabral’s opener.
Raffaele Palladino’s men spurned several decent chances to turn the game on its head but still stretched their cushion to the relegation zone to eight points.
Such daylight between them and the drop line gives Monza plenty of joy, especially considering they’re fighting in the elite division for the first time.
On the other hand, perennial top-flight tenants Inter made the Scudetto race exciting again as Edin Dzeko’s header helped them knock Napoli down from a 15-game unbeaten league run on their Serie A return.
Simone Inzaghi’s side picked up where they left off in November when they toppled the likes of Atalanta and Bologna by an aggregate score of 9-3, consolidating their place in the top-four battle.
Inter took advantage of Lazio’s shocking loss at Lecce to move three points clear in fourth, reducing the gap on the league-leaders Partenopei to eight points in the process.
However, the Nerazzurri cannot afford to rest on their laurels if they’re to become relevant in the Scudetto race, as they remain the only side yet to draw in Serie A this season (W11, L5).
Preview
Monza
Monza proved their top-flight credentials in mid-September when they squeezed past Juventus 1-0 at Brianteo on Palladino’s touchline debut, marking a start of a home revival.
After losing their opening three Serie A home matches, the Biancorossi have registered four victories in their last four league outings on home turf (L1), keeping a clean sheet in each triumph.
Conceding first is when problems often tend to ensue for Monza, as they’ve suffered seven defeats in eight top-four fixtures in which they shipped the opening goal.
Inter
Speaking of issues, Inter have failed to keep a clean sheet on their last 12 Serie A travels, accounting for their longest run without an away shutout in the competition since 1988.
However, Inzaghi’s men have been ruthless against newly-promoted sides in recent seasons, going unbeaten in their last 25 such match-ups (W22, D3), including nine wins in a row in the lead-up to this clash.
Against this backdrop, Inter have developed a habit of collapsing against fellow Lombard opponents outside San Siro, having failed to win 12 of their last 16 league visits to face teams from the principality (D8, L4).
Team News
Monza will be without Inter loanee Stefano Sensi, who picked up a long-term injury before the World Cup break. But Palladino will have an otherwise fully-fit squad for this meeting.
All eyes will be on Carlos Augusto, who has broken the deadlock in Monza’s last three Serie A home victories, soaking up the limelight as the club’s lucky charm.
Inter cannot count on Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic after he suffered a calf injury at the World Cup. However, Inzaghi has the remainder of his team fit and ready.
Having taken his Serie A tally for the season to seven goals with his match-winning performance against Napoli, Dzeko should be the visitors’ danger figure at Brianteo.
Monza vs Inter Potential Lineups
Monza (3-4-2-1): Michele Di Gregorio; Marlon, Pablo Mari, Armando Izzo; Patrick Ciurria, Matteo Pessina, Filippo Ranocchia, Carlos Augusto; Andrea Colpani, Gianluca Caprari; Dany Mota.
Inter (3-5-2): Andre Onana; Milan Skriniar, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico Dimarco; Edin Dzeko, Romelu Lukaku.
Monza vs Inter Prediction
Palladino has built a strong case for Monza’s survival hopes, turning Brianteo into a highly unpleasant environment for the visiting sides. Though Salernitana, Hellas Verona, and Spezia are not on Inter’s level, there’s no doubt the hosts will give the Nerazzurri a run for their money.
That’s to say the least, especially given the visitors’ propensity for gifting away points on the road. Inzaghi’s men have lost four of their eight league games on hostile turf this term (W4), so they cannot take anything for granted.
So maybe it’s time for Inter to play out their first Serie A draw of the season. It may sound a bit stretched, but we can see Monza holding their more heavily fancied adversaries winless.
Prediction: Draw
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