Monza will host fellow surprise package Bologna in the Serie A on Thursday. The two teams were mid-table last season but fell just a few points short of making it to Europe. With a strong start, they appear poised to contend once more.
Preview (Monza vs. Bologna)
Both clubs entered this midweek round of games in the bottom half of the table. It can be argued that given their rocky starts, the two sides have exceeded expectations. In their first Serie A season, Monza amassed an incredible 52 points under the direction of Raffaele Palladino. They are off to another strong start. They have accrued more points in their first five games than they did in their first seven games of the previous season. This is despite being only two points above the drop zone. This accomplishment is even more remarkable when you realize that Monza has already traveled to three of the top five teams from last season — Inter Milan, Atalanta, and Lazio — on the road.
Monza did lose to Inter and Atalanta, but a draw in the capital last weekend in a match that they actually had a chance to win offers, Palladino, much to be hopeful about. After such a strong start to life in the top division, there were concerns that Monza would experience second-season syndrome. These concerns were especially serious after the passing of Silvio Berlusconi. However, they’ll be hoping to keep up their unblemished home record after victories over Empoli and Lecce. In their next eight league games, Monza only plays one team that has qualified for Europe.
Bologna, like Monza, had a devilishly challenging beginning, but they overcame it with flying colors. Bologna is now unbeaten in four games after losing to AC Milan on the opening day. During this stretch, they have held Juventus and Napoli to draws. It was a difficult challenge to face three of the title favorites in the first five weeks. Thiago Motta’s team has six points on the board and is ranked 11th. Their standing after 10 games will be a lot clearer indication of where Bologna is at as Monza is the upcoming opponent and Empoli, Frosinone, and Sassuolo are all to come in their following five games.
Team News
Given the limited time between games this weekend, both clubs will probably alternate. Davide Bettella and Gianluca Caprari of Monza will be sidelined due to injuries, however, Luca Caldirola will be available for selection following a one-match suspension. Danilo D’Ambrosio, a former player for Inter, might be one of the auxiliary players Palladino brings in. Alexis Saelemaekers, who is on loan from AC Milan, might make his complete debut if Motta follows suit. The Belgian winger might start out wide with Riccardo Orsolini, who hasn’t started since making his first appearance for the Italian national team in three years earlier this month. The Belgian winger made his debut against Napoli at the weekend as a 64th-minute substitute.
Adama Soumaoro, who is rehabilitating from an ACL injury, is the lone player currently out for Bologna due to injury. The hosts may yet struggle against a Bologna team that has grabbed six points despite scoring just three goals, even in a matchup that appears to be more favorable on paper than what Monza has encountered frequently so far this season. The visitors have lost just one of their last 11 competitive games because to their effectiveness, and this trend may continue.
Monza 1 – 1 Bologna
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