As the new year begins, Monza and Cagliari find themselves in a precarious position in Serie A, both desperate for points as they battle against relegation. Their upcoming clash on Sunday at the U-Power Stadium will be crucial for both teams, who ended 2024 with four consecutive defeats.
Monza are currently languishing at the bottom of the league table and has struggled significantly this season. The club made a managerial change after parting ways with Alessandro Nesta, who recorded just one win in 17 matches. Unfortunately, the arrival of Salvatore Bocchetti did not yield immediate results, as Monza suffered a heart-wrenching 2-1 loss to Parma in their last outing. Despite taking an early lead, a red card to Pablo Mari and a late goal from Parma dashed any hopes of salvaging a point. This defeat marked Bocchetti’s first match in charge, adding to his previous record of six losses as interim coach of Hellas Verona.
With only 10 points from 18 matches this season—12 points fewer than at this stage last year—Monza are in dire need of a turnaround. The team has not won since October and has yet to secure a victory at home this season. However, they will take some solace from their historical performances against Cagliari, having never lost to them in Serie A.
Cagliari, on the other hand, are slightly better off but still finds itself deep in relegation trouble. The Rossoblu have also struggled recently, losing four consecutive matches leading up to Christmas and suffering a heavy 3-0 defeat to Inter Milan in their last game of 2024. This poor run has left them just two points above Monza and firmly entrenched in the relegation zone. Cagliari’s attack has been particularly concerning; they failed to score in four of their last five matches, including a disappointing exit from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Juventus.
Both teams are under immense pressure to secure points from this encounter. For Cagliari, it represents an opportunity to claim only their second away win of the season against one of their direct relegation rivals. Coach Davide Nicola knows that victory is essential if they hope to avoid another season-long battle against relegation.
Team News
In terms of team news, Monza have been active in the January transfer window, bringing Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro back from Lazio. However, injuries continue to plague the squad. Dany Mota and Georgios Kyriakopoulos have joined several other players on the sidelines due to injury, while Pablo Mari will serve a suspension. With Mota unavailable, Daniel Maldini is expected to partner with top scorer Milan Djuric up front, supported by Gianluca Caprari.
Cagliari face fewer injury concerns but will still be without forward Zito Luvumbo due to an ankle issue. Roberto Piccoli is likely to lead the line again, with Gianluca Gaetano providing support in attack. Veteran striker Leonardo Pavoletti has been relegated to the bench but remains a potential game-changer off the substitutes’ list.
Expected Starting XIs
Monza: Turati; Izzo, Carboni, D’Ambrosio; Pereira, Bianco, Bondo, Birindelli; Caprari, Maldini; Djuric
Cagliari: Sherri; Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Obert; Zortea, Adopo, Makoumbou, Augello; Gaetano; Piccoli
Match Prediction
Given both teams’ recent form and current struggles, this match could be tightly contested. Monza will be eager to break their winless streak and capitalize on their home advantage against a struggling Cagliari side.
Prediction: Monza 2-1 Cagliari
