From our beloved Giulio Saetta
December 15, 2024 (changed at 3:01 pm) – MILANO
Three golden points for Lecce, who beat Monza 2-1 at home and make a nice leap forward in the standings, temporarily catching Roma on 16 points. Giampaolo’s performance record is excellent, as he achieved seven points in four games on the Salento bench: two wins, one draw and one defeat. However, the situation is becoming terribly complicated for Nesta, who in the last eight matches has suffered five defeats and three draws. Very entertaining match, with three penalties conceded by Mariani, two of which were taken away by Var. All goals in the first half, with the Giallorossi taking the lead from Morente, Monza equalized on an own goal by Dorgu and the winning goal by Krstovic.
The choices
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Lecce in full emergency, on the bench with only one defender, Pelmard. At the center of the rearguard there is Jean teaming up with Baschirotto, while Dorgu moves back to full-back. In the middle we trust Berisha, with Coulibaly and Rafia at midfield; front trident with Pierotti, Krstovic and Morente. Nesta chooses Mota as an offensive terminal in place of Djuric, supported in the midfield by Caprari and Maldini. Three-man defense with Izzo, Marì and Caldirola; on the right of midfield Birindelli wins the run-off with Pereira, Bianco and Bondo as midfielders and Kyriakopoulos goes wide to the left.
Roller coaster
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Lecce ahead after just 3′ with Morente, who on the right catches a pass from Berisha, centers himself and beats Turati with the right flat for his first goal in Serie A. The Salento players go wild and in the 14th minute they get a penalty kick after a penetration by Dorgu with a prolonged hold by Bianco, but Krstovic has the shot saved by Turati. The Montenegrin seeks redemption and almost succeeds in the 19th minute with a shot just over the crossbar after a ball stolen from Marì. Monza seems to have shaken off the initial impasse and in the 22nd minute they came close to equalizing with Maldini, who missed the target in the center of the area following a low cross from Birindelli from the right. Monza was still dangerous in the 31st minute with a shot from Birindelli, following a free kick from Caprari from the left, deflected into a corner by Falcone. Here was the equalizer, deserved as well as anomalous in the 37th minute, with a sensational own goal by Dorgu after a headed back pass that went over Falcone. Rollercoaster at Via del Mare, with Lecce taking the lead again at the end thanks to Krstovic, who beat Turati with his right foot in the area, taking advantage of a sleep by the red and white defence: fourth goal of the championship for the Montenegrin centre-forward.
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Sterile pressure
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Lots of Monza at the start of the second half, with Maldini trying to take control of the problem. Giampaolo doesn’t hesitate to provide a little more cover by inserting Ramadani for Berisha, man of the pitch, who certainly doesn’t have a full game left in his legs. After Bianco’s goal was disallowed for offside, in the 17th minute Mariani had no doubts about whistling Guilbert’s second penalty of the match, but VAR Di Paolo removed it because the foul was outside the area. Monza is firmly in the Giallorossi half of the field and then Giampaolo in the 22nd minute introduces Rebic for Krstovic and Helgason for Rafia who was booked, Nesta responds with Sensi for Izzo, who was also booked, and the 2004 Forson for Caprari. The guests were very dangerous in the 26th minute with a right-footed shot from Mota, caught on the counterattack by Bondo, which grazed the crossbar. Second penalty called by Mariani for Lecce for a foul by Forson on Rebic in the 29th minute, but once again taken away due to a previous offside by the same Croatian on Helgason’s touch. Monza closes steadily in attack without finding an equalizer and after 6′ of added time they return to the locker room with their heads together. Despite the defeat, the eighth in sixteen games, no changes on the bench for Monza: for the moment the Brianza club has renewed its trust in Nesta.
