As Serie A action heats up, Monza braces to take on Atalanta in what promises to be a riveting clash.
With Atalanta riding high on recent successes and Monza aiming to disrupt their momentum, anticipation mounts for an electrifying encounter on Sunday.
Match Preview
Atalanta has won their last five matches against Monza across all competitions since 2000.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta had a significant week, qualifying for the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face Serie A rivals Marseille.
Despite losing 1-0 to Liverpool on Thursday, they advanced with a 3-1 aggregate score.
This marks Atalanta’s first semi-final in a European competition since 1988. The team had also qualified for the Coppa Italia semi-finals, potentially setting the stage for a cup double.
Monza aims to halt Atalanta’s momentum. They currently sit 11th in the Serie A standings and are set for another season of Serie A football in 2024-25.
However, Monza hasn’t been in good form recently. Their last three matches ended without a win, securing just one point from nine.
Monza broke a two-game losing streak with a goalless draw against Bologna last week.
They are eight points behind Atalanta and the sixth position, which could lead to qualification for the Europa Conference League.
But Serie A might earn a fifth Champions League spot next season, potentially shifting the Conference League spot to seventh or eighth place.
Monza lost two of their last three home matches, conceding eight goals and scoring four, with defeats against Roma and Napoli.
Interestingly, Napoli is rumored as a possible destination for Gasperini in the offseason, which could influence his decision based on Atalanta’s cup performances.
Head-to-Head:
Atalanta dominated Monza 3-0 in the previous encounter, with goals from Ederson and Gianluca Scamacca before halftime, followed by another from Scamacca after the hour mark.
Four of the last five matches between these teams have seen over 2.5 goals scored, indicating a high-scoring trend. In the last three Serie A meetings, Atalanta outscored Monza 10-2.
Team News & Updates:
Atalanta has struggled away from home this season, with a record of 5 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses. They failed to win four of their last five away matches, losing 2-1 to Cagliari in their last trip.
Scamacca, with nine Serie A goals, is second in scoring for Atalanta and is in excellent form ahead of the Monza clash.
Prediction & Analysis:
Despite Monza’s determination to halt Atalanta’s momentum, the visitors are favored to emerge victorious.
Atalanta’s recent dominance over Monza, coupled with their superior goal-scoring ability, suggests a challenging task for the hosts.
With Scamacca in fine form, Atalanta is poised to secure a 3-1 win away from home, maintaining their stronghold in Serie A.
- Monza 1-3 Atalanta
