Monzavs.Genoa

While the hosts played out a goalless stalemate in Empoli, their visitors bravely fought back to take a point against reigning champions Inter Milan.

Match preview

Alessandro Nesta's first Serie A match as a manager saw his Monza side share the spoils with Empoli last weekend, after the World Cup winner replaced Fiorentina-bound Raffaele Palladino during the off-season.

Former number one Michele Di Gregorio has also departed, moving to Juventus, and his successor Semuel Pizzignacco was partly to thank for securing an opening-day point at Stadio Castellani.

The latter made some important saves to ensure the Biancorossi avoided defeat, but between the end of last season and the start of this, they have now failed to score in four successive matches.

That streak includes a recent penalty-shootout win in the first round of the Coppa Italia, when they ultimately scraped past Sudtirol on spot-kicks.

Since finally reaching the top flight in 2022, Monza have never gone four games without scoring in Serie A, and a clear downward trend has started to emerge: they have suffered four losses in their last six home fixtures, which is as many as throughout the previous 17.

En route to relegation in 2022-23, Genoa were beaten in both league meetings with Monza, having lost only three times across 40 Serie B encounters between the two clubs.

Revived under current coach Alberto Gilardino - once a teammate of Nesta's at AC Milan - the Grifone have since returned to the top flight, before impressively securing mid-table security last term.

Starting their second season back in the big time with a tough test against Inter, Gilardino's side stunned the Scudetto holders with an Alessandro Vogliacco opener, and after conceding two Marcus Thuram goals they still bit back to salvage a point.

Sending Stadio Ferraris into a frenzy, former Milan winger Junior Messias fittingly ended a 324-day Serie A goal drought against his old foes, firing home a late leveller from the spot.

With last season's potent strike partnership of Albert Gudmundsson and Mateo Retegui both sold, the Brazilian has been used as a stand-in striker, and he had already netted Genoa's Coppa Italia winner against Reggiana.

Monza Serie A form:

Monza form (all competitions):

Genoa Serie A form:

Genoa form (all competitions):

Team News

Monza are still without goalkeeper Alessio Cragno - who has undergone shoulder surgery and will not return until October - and midfielder Jose Machin (knee), but Roberto Gagliardini has overcome a thigh problem that threatened to rule him out entirely last week.

The latter will be particularly keen to start, having scored five times against Genoa in Serie A to date, including two braces when playing for Inter - in 2018 and 2019.

As veteran striker Milan Djuric is struggling with a rib injury, Andrea Petagna - who has eight goal involvements against the Grifone to his name - should start up front.

Meanwhile, Biancorossi boss Alessandro Nesta will be free to convene with former teammate Gilardino on the touchline after serving a suspension.

The latter will hope new signing Andrea Pinamonti - scorer of 40 Serie A goals so far - can make an immediate impact after the recent exits of Mateo Retegui and Albert Gudmundsson. However, the ex-Sassuolo striker has faced Monza three times in Serie A without scoring, losing on each occasion.

His introduction would break up the makeshift pairing between Vitinha and Junior Messias; fellow forward Caleb Ekuban is still ruled out by a calf injury.

Monza possible starting lineup:

Pizzignacco; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Birindelli, Bondo, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota; Petagna

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Gollini; De Winter, Bani, Vogliacco; Zanoli, Frendrup, Badelj, Malinovskyi, Martin; Messias, Pinamonti

We say: Monza 1-2 Genoa

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