Serie A Preview: Hellas Verona vs Monza
FIy999 2024/10/20 03:12
The only team yet to win a single Serie A game this season, Monza will meet Hellas Verona at Stadio Bentegodi on Monday evening, aiming to finally get off the mark.
Match preview
Ending a three-match losing streak, Verona overcame regional rivals Venezia just before the international break, fighting back from conceding an early goal to win 2-1 thanks to Casper Tengstedt's equaliser and an own goal by visiting goalkeeper Jesse Joronen.
Victory edged the Gialloblu up to 12th place in the table, with nine points on the board, also continuing their improved scoring rate since Tengstedt and fellow striker Daniel Mosquera arrived in the summer.
Hellas have now won two of their first four home games in Serie A, losing the others, and they are yet to draw any matches this season - either home or away, in both league and cup.
One of two teams, alongside Napoli, to have scored the most goals (nine) during the second half this term, Paolo Zanetti's side certainly pose an increased threat after the break, meaning there is no need to panic if they fall behind against Monza.
Verona have held the edge over Monday's visitors in recent years, going unbeaten in six meetings at Stadio Bentegodi before losing the most recent one 3-1 last November.
When the sides last met, they played out a goalless draw in Monza, meaning that the Biancorossi have yet to lose against Verona since arriving in Serie A two years ago, recording two wins and two draws.
Alessandro Nesta's side also settled for one point in their final fixture before international football intervened, as substitute striker Dany Mota drew them level at home to Roma and secured a 1-1 draw.
In isolation, that could be seen as a commendable result, but it extended Monza's winless start to the league season to seven games, leaving them in 19th place on four points.
While two of three teams still awaiting their first success at this stage last year ultimately went on to avoid relegation, Nesta will be acutely aware he was not hired to lead a fight against the drop - Monza finished in mid-table at the end of both Serie A seasons so far.
The former Italy defender has some credit in the bank by virtue of booking a place in the Coppa Italia's last 16, where Bologna will await in December, but his team are creating too few goalscoring opportunities.
Dating back to before Nesta's reign, the Biancorossi have failed to find the net in 12 away games since the start of last season - putting them level with Lecce at the top of that particular table.
possible starting lineup:
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Serie A
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Verona
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Monza
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