Monza arrive with 7 points, five defeats and a leaky defence

Ivan Juric's side lost 3-1 at Torino after beating Lazio by the same score, and Varela is the man to stop. Napoli visit the U-Power Stadium on Wednesday 28 October.

by Gennaro SanninoMonday 26 October, 10:24 CET· 3 hours ago

Stadio Gino Alfonso Sada (Monza) — Foto: Simonemb · Public domain

Monza sit 15th in Serie A with 7 points from 8 games, level with Genoa. They have scored 15 and conceded 18, and have lost five of their eight matches.

They are back in the top flight after finishing third in Serie B with 76 points. The club was founded in 1912 and has been in Serie A since 2022. Their best finish is 11th, in 2022-23. The table is a fact, not a verdict: the squad, the coach and the recent games say more.

Juric's set-up

Ivan Juric has been in charge since the start of the season and plays a 3-4-2-1. Against Torino, Monza lined up with Törnqvist in goal. Goglichidze, Lucchesi and Carboni formed the back three, with Birindelli and Mangas as wing-backs. Foe Ondoa and Akinsanmiro played in midfield, and Mota and Robinson sat behind Varela.

It is a side that has shown two faces in the same match. After the 3-1 win over Lazio at the Olimpico, Juric himself admitted his team had given away too much in the first half.

The threats

Varela is the name to circle. He scored the equaliser against Torino, 1-1 at 47 minutes, just after the break. Monza showed they can respond when they go behind. Mota and Robinson, the two attacking midfielders, are there to feed him.

On the flanks, Birindelli and Mangas give Monza width. Birindelli has hurt opponents before with crosses and late runs into the box.

Midfield is the other key. Foe Ondoa and Akinsanmiro are asked to keep the team compact. Behind them, Carboni and Goglichidze lead the defence alongside Lucchesi, who returned against Torino.

The back line is still the concern. Monza have conceded 18 in eight games. Torino scored three against them, at 39, 61 and 72 minutes, through Fitz-Jim, Belghali and Vlasic, after taking the lead.

Where Napoli can hurt them

Monza have had to change things at the back more than once. Juric has pointed out that they often concede even without allowing many chances, so a single moment can tip a game.

Napoli have, in our view, three players more than Monza at this level on quality. They need to take the game to them with intensity from the first minute, because Monza have looked vulnerable in first halves.

Napoli travel to the U-Power Stadium on Wednesday 28 October, kick-off 20:45 CET (19:45 UK, 14:45 ET), after the 3-3 draw with Roma. The fanbase wants a different team.

Against a side that has lost five of eight, there is no need for fine words. Napoli need a performance without a dip, because another dropped point would weigh more than any talk about style.