Sports Mole brings you a detailed preview of the upcoming Serie A match between Como and Monza, delving deeper into team news, potential line-ups and predictions.
In a crucial clash scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Stadio Sinigaglia, local rivals Como and Monza will both be keen to end their winless runs in Serie A.
Como, struggling to find rhythm, have not won in seven matches, while Monza have not tasted victory since October. The stakes are high as both clubs look to move out of the relegation zone and towards safer territories.
Match Preview
Como suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against an in-form Fiorentina last week. Their only victories since returning to the top flight of Italian football came at the end of September, when they achieved two consecutive victories. Unfortunately, they have picked up just five points from their last seven meetings, putting them firmly in the bottom three places after 13 matches.
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New coach Cesc Fabregas is feeling the pressure as he defends his side against what he describes as unrealistic expectations following their promotion from Serie B, an achievement marked by high-profile signings. However, the reality of their situation was a wake-up call.
Como’s offensive problems are illustrated by their alarming statistic of just one goal scored per 22 attempts made in the opponent’s box, ranking them as the fourth worst team in the league. To make matters worse, they have yet to secure a shutout in their league outings this season.
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Monza, meanwhile, face difficulties, having maintained an unbeaten record against Como in Serie B and C until they fell short in their last meeting two seasons ago. However, since then they have struggled, winning just one of their last 22 league matches. That isolated success came in a 3-0 win over Hellas Verona in October, and the team had the fewest points of any team in Serie A with just 12 to their name.
Alessandro Nesta’s men suffered a run of three defeats before salvaging a draw against Torino thanks to an equalizing goal from experienced Milan Djuric. However, their away form has also been disappointing, with half of their 16 matches in 2024 failing to result in goals being scored.
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Team News
Como will be without central defender Alberto Dossena due to suspension following his controversial sending off against Fiorentina. Edoardo Goldaniga could join the defense, while Ignace Van der Brempt returns to provide width. Marc-Oliver Kempf could be available after injury, but several players, including Sergi Roberto and Maximo Perrone, are expected to miss.
On the bright side for Como, Luca Mazzitelli and Gabriel Strefezza are expected to return to the team, strengthening their attacking options alongside Nico Paz and Patrick Cutrone.
Monza’s injury list remains long, as they are missing key players like captain Matteo Pessina, midfielder Roberto Gagliardini and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno. Armando Izzo’s one-match suspension forces Nesta to adjust his defense, likely by bringing in Luca Caldirola as a replacement.
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In attack, Italian international Daniel Maldini is expected to team up with Djuric, who stands out for his impressive tally of 12 headed goals in Serie A; only a few players from major European leagues have surpassed him in this category.
Compositions probables
How: Audero ; Van der Brempt, Goldaniga, Barba, Moreno; Engelhardt, Da Cunha ; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera ; Cutrone
Monza : Turati ; Caldirola, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota ; Djuric
Prognosis
Our prediction: Como 1-0 Monza. With both teams engaged in a tense battle against relegation, this match promises to be close and hard-fought. Given their scoring struggles this season, it’s likely that a single goal will determine the outcome.
For more information, including a detailed analysis of the potential scores and results of this match, be sure to click here.
