Serie A | Gameweek 23

Feb 1, 2025 at 2pm UK

U-Power Stadium

Monza vs Hellas Verona

Match preview

After finally securing their first home win of the season against Fiorentina at the 11th time of asking two weeks ago, Salvatore Bocchetti's Monza have slipped even further from safety again after losing the last two games away from home.

The Biancorossi lost 3-1 at Bologna before a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Genoa on Monday, where they only took one shot on target across the whole game.

They've also had a bit of a wobble at home for most of the season, with that win against Fiorentina taking them to just six points from a possible 33 at the U-Power Stadium — the second-lowest tally across Europe's top five leagues.

With seven points separating them from safety, Monza are in a very congested battle at the bottom of Serie A. They're currently set to face Verona, who are sitting in 17th place.

Even though the club has had a lot of investment, which is what made them rise to Serie A so quickly, it looks like Monza's three-year stay in the top flight will probably be over. They've only won 13 points from 22 games so far this season.

They really need to tighten up at the back, and they've got a former defender in charge now. They haven't kept a clean sheet in 15 league games, but they did manage to do that in the last one back in October, when they won 3-0 at Verona.

That extended the Brianzoli's unbeaten record against Verona, having yet to taste defeat in 5 top-flight meetings - winning three.

Verona haven't scored at the U-Power Stadium in Serie A, losing 2-0 there in 2022 and drawing 0-0 last season, so they might struggle again.

After Verona went 348 minutes without a goal, Jackson Tchatchoua ended that run with a vital equaliser away to Venezia on Monday, keeping them out of the bottom three on goal difference.

But everything's about to change again this weekend, with Verona level on 20 points with Lecce in the relegation zone and Parma one place above them.

Paolo Zanetti's team have been playing away more often recently, losing just one of their last four away games, and winning twice. But they need to improve at home and away if they're to avoid being relegated this season.

They've had a bit of a scoring drought recently, and their defence has conceded 48 goals this season, so they need to sort that out if they're not going to be relegated.

They've got to start stronger, especially since they've only conceded the first goal in 17 matches this season. And when they have scored first, they've won each time (four times).

Recent Performance

Monza Serie A form:LLLWLL

Hellas Verona Serie A form:LWDLLD

Team News

Pablo Mari has left for Fiorentina, but Monza have been busy in the market recently, signing Kacper Urbanski and Stefan Lekovic on loan, and both made their debuts for the club last weekend.

But there are still loads of absentees for Bocchetti, with midfield pair Matteo Pessina and Roberto Gagliardini out injured, along with experienced defender Luca Caldirola, and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno.

On a positive note, left-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos has returned to action and has a good record against Verona, losing just two of his eight head-to-heads, with three assists under his belt.

Verona are likely going to be without top scorer Casper Tengstedt after he was forced off in the first half against Venezia last week due to injury.

The visitors will at least be able to welcome Pawel Dawidowicz and Ondrej Duda back from suspension, while Daniel Oyegoke could make his debut after arriving from Hearts.

Unfortunately, Davide Faraoni (muscle), Martin Frese and Abdou Harroui (both knee) are all sidelined, and Giangiacomo Magnani has left for Palermo.

Possible starting lineup

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; D'Ambrosio, Izzo, Carboni; Pedro Pereira, Urbanski, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Ciurria, Dany Mota, Caprari

Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:

Montipo; Dawidowicz, Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua, Duda, Serdar, Bradaric; Suslov, Sarr, Kastanos