Serie A | Gameweek 25

Feb 16, 2025 at 2pm UK

U-Power Stadium

Monza vs Lecce

Match preview

Monza's 5-1 defeat was so bad that the club's hierarchy sacked Nesta's replacement in favour of the former centre-back, who was sacked before Christmas after failing to win a Serie A match in 17 attempts.

Bocchetti's results have been even worse, with the Bianconeri losing six of seven top-flight matches under the sacked coach, although there was a commendable 2-1 win over Fiorentina on 13 January.

Four defeats followed, leaving Monza on 13 points and eight adrift of safety heading into the 25th round of matches, underlining the challenge Nesta faces in the final months of the 2024-25 campaign.

The former centre-back's first task will be to secure a third league win of the campaign, which would see his side level with Premier League side Southampton and Bundesliga outfit VfL Bochum as the side with the fewest wins in Europe's top five, and possibly draw level on points with 19th-placed Venice at the end of the round should they lose at Genoa.

However, that will not be easy against a Lecce side who are on a two-match unbeaten run in Serie A and who have not beaten Monza in five previous meetings between the two sides.

Although the Salentini have only managed two wins in their five top-flight encounters, including a 2-1 reverse fixture triumph in mid-December, the Lupi have also won their last two Serie B games in 2021-22, underlining the Apulian side's dominance in the competition.

Marco Giampaolo's men were credited with holding Europe-chasing Bologna at bay last time out, keeping their first clean sheet since a goalless draw with Genoa in early 2025 and looking to extend their unbeaten run to three games.

With Lecce's last two league victories coming away from home - back-to-back 3-1 wins over Empoli and Parma in January - the Salentini will be looking to pick up maximum points for the third time in four away games, and for the first time in back-to-back away matches since beating Cremonese and Atalanta BC in February 2023.

While the 14th-placed side are not out of the relegation zone - Lecce are just four points above Parma in 18th - a visit to the league's worst team offers Giampaolo's side a chance to distance themselves from the bottom three.

Recent Performance

Monza Serie A form:LWLLLL

Lecce Serie A form:DWLLWD

Team News

Nesta will have to contend with a number of injury concerns on his return to the job, with Danilo D'Ambrosio, Gianluca Caprari, Luca Caldirola, Roberto Gagliardini and Samuele Birindelli all expected to miss out, while Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro, Matteo Pessina and Stefano Turati will be assessed before Sunday's game.

With the Biancorossi's second top scorer, Daniel Maldini, having left the club after signing for Atalanta, the attacking burden will fall on four-goal man and top scorer Dany Mota, who has yet to score or provide an assist in 305 minutes of league action against Lecce and has failed to add to his four top-flight strikes since scoring a brace against Hellas Verona in October.

Although Lecce have fewer injury concerns, the Salentini will be assessing Kialonda Gaspar, Lameck Banda and Medon Berisha ahead of their visit to Lombardia in week 25, while Filip Marchwinski is a confirmed absentee with a serious knee problem.

Nikola Krstovic has been at the heart of Wolves' last two away victories, scoring a goal and assisting two others in the 3-1 win at Parma and netting a brace at Empoli, and Lupi's top scorer will be looking to add to his seven Serie A goals on Sunday.

Only Inter's Romelu Lukaku (five), Torino's Che Adams (four) and Atalanta's Mateo Retegui (four) have surpassed Krstovic's trio of match-winning goals in the top flight between 24 and 25, underlining the importance of the seven-goal striker to the away side.

Possible starting lineup

Monza possible starting lineup:

Pizzignacco; Izzo, Lekovic, Palacios; Pereira, Urbanski, Bianco, Kyriakopoulos; Ciurria, Mota; Ganvoula

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Gallo; Pierret, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Morente; Krstovic