Coppa Italia

27 Sept 2024 5:30pm at U.K

Monza vs Brescia

U-Power Stadium

Match preview

Monza have only three points on the board from five rounds of Serie A action so far, following last week's 2-1 home loss to Bologna, with their third year in Italy's top flight getting off to a worryingly slow start.

Comfortable mid-table finishers in both of the past two seasons, the Biancorossi sit 18th at this early stage of proceedings, leaving new boss Alessandro Nesta under pressure to produce a turnaround.

The 2006 World Cup winner enjoyed his most impressive result earlier this month, when holding Scudetto holders Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw in a game that Monza came within minutes of pulling off a major upset.

However, after losing again last week, they approach this cup contest still seeking a first win since beating Sudtirol on penalties in the Coppa Italia's opening round, all the way back in early August.

After tackling Brescia in their third straight home game, Nesta's side will visit Napoli this weekend, ahead of hosting Roma just before the international break; therefore, Thursday's tie offers by far the best chance to end their drought.

Brescia's most recent meeting with Monza came in the promotion playoffs of 2022, when the latter won both games 2-1 before triumphing in the final.

Last season, the Rondinelle missed out again, losing to Catanzaro, and their wait for a return to the top flight goes on. It is not an unfamiliar feeling for fans, as their club hold the records both for consecutive and overall participations in Serie B.

Experienced coach Rolando Maran is the latest man employed by notorious owner Massimo Cellino, and his team have won three and lost three so far this season, after starting the campaign with success in the first round of the Coppa Italia.

Largely thanks to Giacomo Olzer's second-half brace, Maran's men defeated Serie A new boys Venezia 3-1 to set up this week's tie - the winner of which will meet Bologna in the last 16.

Before tackling likely promotion rivals Cremonese at the weekend, Brescia must first face another Lombardy outfit at U-Power Stadium, where their hosts may be ripe for an upset.

Recent Performance

Monza Coppa Italia form:W

Monza form (all competitions):WDLDDL

Brescia Coppa Italia form:W

Brescia form (all competitions):WLLWWL

Injuries and suspensions

Monza

1 Alessio Cragno

5 Luca Caldirola

19 Samuele Birindelli

6 Roberto Gagliardini

12 Stefano Sensi

80 Samuele Vignato

Brescia

No sidelined players

Possible starting lineups

Monza(3-4-2-1)

30Turati(GK)

4Izzo(DC)

44Carboni(DC)

22Marí(DC)

13Pereira(DMR)

77Kyriakopoulos(DML)

32Pessina(MC)

42Bianco(MC)

14Maldini(AMC)

47Mota(AMC)

11Djuric(FW)

Brescia(3-5-2)

22Andrenacci(GK)

32Papetti(DC)

28Adorni(DC)

18Jallow(DC)

24Dickmann,(DMR)

26Bertagnoli(MC)

8Bjarnason(MC)

21Fogliata(MC)

19Corrado(DML)

39Bessagio(AMC)

7Juric（FW）