Monzavs.Sudtirol

Under new management for the upcoming campaign, the Biancorossi are favourites to progress past second-tier opposition.

Match preview

Finishing their second season at Italy's top level with a winless streak of nine matches, recording three draws and six defeats along the way, Monza missed out on a top-half finish last term.

Again avoiding any relegation fears, the Biancorossi came in 12th following a final-day loss to Juventus, but having since lost head coach Raffaele Palladino to Fiorentina, they must now build again under new boss Alessandro Nesta.

The former AC Milan defender arrives in Brianza with the brief of continuing Monza's impressive start to life in Serie A - and a cup run would also go down well with his ambitious employers.

While Italy's top eight teams will enter the Coppa Italia in the last 16, Monza - who went out to Nesta's Reggiana this time last year - still have two ties to negotiate before reaching that stage.

After finishing their pre-season programme with a 2-2 draw against relegated Sassuolo, and ahead of their top-flight opener against Empoli next week, Nesta's new side will play a cup tie on home turf.

Like Friday's hosts, Sudtirol have - not surprisingly - never lifted the Coppa Italia, and they have yet to taste the rarefied air of Serie A throughout their mostly amateur history.

Based in the small city of Bolzano, which has just over 100,000 inhabitants, the closest they have ever come to reaching Italy's top division was missing out in the 2022 Serie B playoffs that were ultimately won by Monza.

The South Tyrol club, who slipped down to 12th last term, now kick off a new competitive campaign following a 1-0 pre-season defeat to Bologna last week.

Having gone out in the first round to Sampdoria 12 months ago, the Tirolesi will hope to upset their top-flight hosts before welcoming Serie B rivals Modena to Stadio Druso next weekend.

Monza pre-season form:

Sudtirol pre-season form:

Team News

While Raffaele Palladino has taken Andrea Colpani with him to Florence, and goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio departed for Juventus after a superb spell between the posts, Monza have retained most of their main men for the upcoming campaign.

Euro 2020-winning captain Matteo Pessina should start in midfield on Friday night, with veteran striker Milan Djuric set to lead the home side's front line.

Former loanee Stefano Sensi will rejoin Pessina in the Biancorossi's engine room this season, having signed on a free transfer following his exit from Inter Milan.

Meanwhile, Sudtirol boss Federico Valente is expected to name a similar starting XI to that which lost 1-0 to Bologna in their final friendly, with just a few changes.

Albanian forward Silvio Merkaj could feature up front, with ex-Monza winger Salvatore Molina on the visitors' right flank and veteran Slovenia international Jasmin Kurtic in midfield.

Monza possible starting lineup:

Sorrentino; D'Ambrosio, Caldirola, Mari; Birindelli, Sensi, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Caprari, Maldini; Djuric

Sudtirol possible starting lineup:

Poluzzi; Ceppitelli, Masiello, Casiraghi; Molina, Kurtic, Arrigoni, Mallamo, Cagnano; Merkaj, Odogwu

We say: Monza 1-0 Sudtirol

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