MONZA – JUVENTUS | Sunday 3pm
Monza returned from Lecce with a point, the first in their Serie A history, at the end of a match conditioned by obvious refereeing errors and which did nothing to save the bench of Giovanni Stroppa, whose exoneration was in the air after five defeats in a row. Many were ready to bet that Galliani and Berlusconi would entrust the bench to Roberto De Zerbi, free after his Ukrainian experience with Shakhtar.
Instead, the Biancorossa management decided to promote Raffaele Palladino, a rookie coach who comes from the school of his ‘masters’ Gasperini and Juric. It will be up to him to lift the fortunes of a team that was completely revolutionised in the summer with high-level signings, but which still cannot get going. From the offensive point of view, Monza is struggling – only three goals scored – but it does not shine in the non-possession phase either: no team has conceded more goals than the Lombardi. It will be difficult to increase the loot before the break for the national teams, when another team officially in crisis like Juventus will arrive in Brianza. There is no peace of mind for Massimiliano Allegri, who was also defeated this week by Benfica, who came back from a 1-2 defeat at the Stadium.
The Champions League qualification for the round of 16 is getting more complicated, and things are no better in the championship, where the Old Lady did not go beyond a draw with Salernitana. And the regular goal disallowed to Milik in the final seconds – which generated a flood of controversy – is an alibi that can only hold up to a certain point. The coach has dismissed the prospects of exoneration, but the numbers are increasingly worrying: just one win in the last seven games and a game that continues to fail to excite.
Monza-Juventus: latest lineup news
Dany Mota
Changes in sight regarding Monza after the appointment of the new coach. It is likely that Palladino will choose to switch to a four-man defence, while Cragno could be called up again to guard the posts in place of Di Gregorio. In the middle, the presence of Sensi and Pessina is certain, in addition to the former Rovella, while Birindelli and Carlos Augusto should be confirmed on the flanks. Gytkjaer will be in the front, but in the case of a 3-5-2 the attacking pair will be formed by Dany Mota and Caprari.
In the press conference Allegri said that Locatelli, Rabiot and Alex Sandro will not be in the match, while Szczesny remains in strong doubt. Di Maria will play from the first minute, on the other side of the trident instead it is a ballot between Kean and Kostic. Disqualified both Cuadrado and Milik, the coach at the back will give confidence to Danilo and De Sciglio.
The prediction
Juventus have no alternative but to win if they don’t want things to go wrong in the league as well. The Bianconeri at the moment look fragile and struggling with several problems in both halves of the pitch, but they should return to success against the team that has done worse so far in this start of the season. The feeling, in any case, is that Monza might be able to pierce the Juventus’ rearguard on at least one occasion.
The probable formations of Monza-Juventus
- MONZA (3-5-2): Cragno; Marlon, Pablo Marì, Izzo; Birindelli, Pessina, Rovella, Sensi, Carlos Augusto; Dany Mota, Caprari.
- JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Perin; Danilo, Bonucci, Bremer, De Sciglio; McKennie, Paredes, Miretti; Kostic, Vlahovic, Di Maria.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
