Preview: Monza vs. Bologna - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are level on points with their forthcoming opponents, but sit above them in the table based on goal difference.

Match preview

After only taking one point from their opening six games following being promoted through Serie B's play-offs last season, Monza achieved three consecutive victories to turn around their campaign.

Those wins all came under new head coach Raffaele Palladino, who replaced Giovanni Stroppa in the managerial dugout last month, with the 38-year-old sensationally beating Juventus 1-0 on his debut to hand the club their first ever top flight triumph.

However, after his perfect start saw Monza take nine points from a possible nine, their 4-1 defeat away to AC Milan last time out brought them back down to Earth off the back of a 1-0 loss to Empoli, with Brahim Diaz bagging a brace before half-time.

Still, Palladino's side are four points clear of the safety zone, which felt unthinkable six weeks ago under his predecessor, while they have progressed to the next round of the Coppa Italia after beating Udinese 3-2 away from home last week.

Should I Biancorossi manage to beat Bologna at Stadio Brianteo on Monday, they could move as high as 11th in the table, while potentially putting even further distance between themselves and the bottom three.

After a disappointing start to the season, Bologna have also already opted to change managers, with Thiago Motta replacing Sinisa Mihajlovic last month after enjoying a successful season with Spezia.

The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder earned his first win since taking charge last time out, with Marko Arnautovic's penalty and Lewis Ferguson's effort giving them a crucial 2-0 win against Lecce.

That victory saw them catapult above their opponents and out of the bottom three all the way up to 13th in the table prior to the weekend's action, but they certainly can not afford to get ahead of themselves just yet.

Their hopes of winning Coppa Italia for the third time in their history remain alive after beating Cagliari 1-0 through Adam Obert's own goal, but for now they must focus on continuing to move up in the table.

Monza Serie A form:

D

W

W

W

L

L

Monza form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

L

Bologna Serie A form:

W

L

L

D

L

W

Bologna form (all competitions):

L

L

D

L

W

W

Team News

Monza will remain without Nicolo Rovella through suspension after the midfelder's dismissal in the defeat to Empoli, while Andrea Ranocchia is doubtful due to a sprained ankle.

His namesake Filippo Ranocchia will hope to have earned a start after scoring from the substitutes' bench during their defeat in nearby Milan last week.

Bologna, meanwhile, will travel to Monza without Kevin Bonifazi and Denso Kasius due to tendon and calf issues respectively.

Motta is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XI having finally earned his first win of his tenure, with Arnautovic set to lead the line once more.

Monza possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Antov, Mari, Caldirola; Ciurria, Barberis, Sensi, Augusto; Pessina, Caprari; Mota

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Posch, Bonifazi, Lucumi, Cambiaso; Ferguson, Medel; Aebischer, Dominguez, Barrow; Arnautovic

We say: Monza 1-2 Bologna

Now that Bologna have recorded their first win of the Motta era, we can envisage them notching back-to-back victories away to Monza on Monday.

There is little doubt that the visitors possess more individual quality within their ranks, while Palladino's honeymoon period appears to be over for the hosts.

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