The Serie A weekend kicks off with Monza facing Juventus at the U-Power Stadium on Friday night, marking a compelling encounter where Monza seeks to pose a challenge to the Old Lady, who’s contending for the title.
Match Preview
Juventus has shown resilience and form in the current campaign, trailing close behind Inter Milan. In a tense Derby d’Italia last weekend, Juventus secured a 1-1 draw against Inter, showcasing their competitive spirit.
Under Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus aims for consistency and tactical prowess. Despite conceding and relinquishing a clean sheet streak, they remain just two points behind Inter and are a formidable force.
However, Monza proved to be a tough opponent for Juventus in the previous season, securing victories in both encounters, making them only the second side to achieve such a feat against Allegri’s team.
Monza, after a remarkable debut in Serie A last season, continues to impress this term. They sit ninth in the standings, just three points shy of the European places, displaying solid defensive capabilities despite a goal-scoring challenge.
Their defensive strength has contributed to their current position, even though they have faced difficulty in keeping clean sheets recently. Yet, Monza remains unbeaten in their last five matches.
Team Form
Monza Serie A form:
- W
- L
- D
- W
- D
- D
Juventus Serie A form:
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
Team News
Injuries persist for Monza, with Gianluca Caprari and Armando Izzo still sidelined. However, midfielder Andrea Colpani’s performance is worth noting, as he inches closer to the Italian national team call-up.
Juve faces right-back injury issues with Danilo and Mattia De Sciglio, likely allowing Andrea Cambiaso to continue in that position. Timothy Weah’s absence due to a thigh injury further challenges Juventus’ lineup.
Hans Nicolussi Caviglia’s return could aid Juventus in the midfield, especially with Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli suspended.
Possible Lineups
Monza:(3-4-3)
Di Gregorio;
D’Ambrosio, Pablo Mari, Caldirola;
Ciurria, Gagliardini, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos;
Colpani, Colombo, Dany Mota
Juventus:(3-5-2)
Szczesny;
Gatti, Bremer, Rugani;
Cambiaso, McKennie, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic;
Vlahovic, Chiesa
Prediction
Anticipate a tight encounter, typical of Allegri’s tactical approach, aiming to secure a narrow win. Monza’s resilient defense might challenge Juventus, but they might fall short in scoring against Juve’s robust setup.
- Our Prediction: Monza 0-1 Juventus
A pragmatic performance might favor Juventus to clinch a slender victory.