Monza’s dream debut Serie A season continues on Saturday at the Stadio Brianteo against reigning holders Milan. One of the most highly-awaited fixtures on this weekend’s schedule sees Silvio Berlusconi’s side welcome the club he helped rise to prominence during his 31-year trophy-laden presidential tenure.
Berlusconi’s lofty pre-season ambitions of securing a top-half finish are steadily turning into a reality thanks to high-performing manager Raffaele Palladino. Yet to lose a single league outing since the calendar year flipped to 2023 (W3, D4), Monza head into proceedings in tenth following a heroic 1-0 win at Bologna last time out.
Giulio Donati’s 25th-minute goal helped the Biancorossi avenge a 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Brianteo. Another revenge-poised contest is waiting in the wings, with Monza aiming to repay the favor to Milan after a thumping 4-1 loss in their maiden top-flight encounter at the San Siro last October.
While Monza had the whole week to rest and prepare for this clash, fatigue could be catching up with the visitors. Milan arrested an embarrassing four-game losing streak in all competitions with a 1-0 home league win over Torino last weekend. It proved an ideal morale boost for the Rossoneri ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s midweek visit to the San Siro.
Brahim Diaz stabbed home a diving header to hand Milan a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday. That was a perfect way for Stefano Pioli’s team to return to the competition’s knockout stages for the first time in nine seasons. But there’s no time to celebrate, as their hopes of a third straight top-four finish in Serie A hang by a thread.
Preview
Monza
After going unbeaten in their last eight Serie A outings (W4, D4), Monza will unlikely be fazed by Milan’s stature. But with each of their three home league games in 2023 producing scoring draws, including an enthralling 2-2 stalemate against Inter in early January, it’s hard to write a share of the spoils off.
Palladino’s attacking set-up usually sparks into life in the later stages. Indeed, eight of Monza’s 16 home league goals this season have arrived beyond the hour mark. Then, it’s no surprise the Biancorossi have fought back to avoid defeat in three out of five Serie A contests at the Brianteo after conceding the opening goal (D3, L2).
Player to Watch: Andrea Petagna
Former Milan youth academy product Andrea Petagna has hit his stride of late, chipping in with a goal and three assists in Monza’s last five Serie A fixtures. However, the robust strike has only netted once in his 11 previous appearances against his boyhood club.
Milan
Despite ending a miserable run of seven winless games in all competitions (D2, L5) with back-to-back 1-0 victories, Milan cannot take their eyes off the ball just yet. Commencing this round in fifth, albeit level on points with third-placed Atalanta, the Rossoneri are looking to win consecutive league matches for the first time in 2023.
But it’s worth noting that Pioli’s men have lost their last two away league outings without scoring. Another sub-par result would see Milan lose on three straight Serie A travels for the first time since October 2017. Also, you’d need to go back to 2005 for the last time the Rossoneri failed to find the net in three successive away league fixtures.
Player to Watch: Brahim Diaz
Inspired by his match-winning strike against Tottenham, Diaz is aiming for his sixth competitive goal for Milan this season. Interestingly, two of his five seasonal goals came in the reverse fixture against Monza, so he somewhat feels like a natural choice.
Team News
Barring Samuele Vignato, Monza will have the remainder of their squad fit and ready for Saturday’s showdown.
Meanwhile, this game will come too soon for Mike Maignan, Sergino Dest, Alessandro Florenzi, and Ismael Bennacer. Yet, Milan could welcome Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to the matchday squad for the first time this season.
Monza vs Milan Potential Lineups
Monza (3-4-2-1): Michele Di Gregorio; Armando Izzo, Luca Caldirola, Marlon; Samuele Birindelli, Mattia Pessina, Stefano Sensi, Carlos Augusto; Gianluca Caprari, Patrick Ciurria; Andrea Petagna.
AC Milan (3-4-2-1): Ciprian Tatarusanu; Pierre Kalulu, Simon Kjaer, Malick Thiaw; Theo Hernandez, Sandro Tonali, Rade Krunic, Davide Calabria; Rafael Leao, Brahim Diaz; Olivier Giroud.
Monza vs Milan Prediction
Beating Juventus and holding Inter to a draw in 2023 shows Monza are no strangers to upsetting the odds. And while they’re expected to give Milan a run for their money, we back the visitors to take home three points.
Prediction: Milan Win
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