Napoli will be keen to keep their good run of form going when they face Monza on Sunday night.
Both SSC Napoli and AC Monza head into this Serie A clash at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona fresh off victories in the Coppa Italia. Napoli, unbeaten since the opening matchday, has scored nine goals without reply in their last three matches. Conversely, Monza are still in search of their first league win this season.
Napoli’s recent form has been promising under the management of Antonio Conte. Following a goalless draw away to Juventus, they sit just one point behind the early league leaders, Torino, with a total of 10 points from five matches.
Conte has relied heavily on star players Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to spearhead an attacking unit that is showing signs of improvement. The Partenopei’s last match in the Coppa Italia saw them cruise to a 5-0 victory against Serie B outfit Palermo, with Cyril Ngonge netting a brace and new signings Scott McTominay and David Neres also finding the back of the net.
The home advantage has proven significant for Napoli, as they have won all four home matches under Conte. Historically, they have performed well against Monza, having won two of their four previous top-flight meetings, scoring four goals in each of those matches. The last encounter ended with a 4-2 victory for Napoli, who struck four times in the second half.
Monza, on the other hand, continue to struggle in the league, with the longest winless run among current Serie A teams, now tallying 14 matches without a victory after last week’s home loss to Bologna.
Despite a glimmer of hope from their Coppa Italia victory over Brescia, where Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, Gianluca Caprari, and Matteo Pessina scored, their league form remains a significant concern as they sit second-bottom of the table with only three points. The Hard Tackle explores the possible lineups and strategies for this much-awaited match.
Team News & Tactics
SSC Napoli
In their upcoming Serie A clash, SSC Napoli’s head coach, Antonio Conte, is expected to revert to a full-strength lineup after recently rotating players for the Coppa Italia match. The only significant absence will be first-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret, who is sidelined due to a thigh injury sustained last weekend. In Meret’s place, Elia Caprile will take on the role of starting goalkeeper.
Centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno, who was rested during the last match, is noteworthy for his exceptional defensive record, having played the most minutes in Serie A without being dribbled past—totaling 1333 minutes. This impressive streak extends back to February and underscores his defensive capabilities.
Meanwhile, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Romelu Lukaku, both of whom were substitutes in the previous outing, will return to the starting lineup, providing a significant boost to Napoli’s attacking options.
Napoli are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation against AC Monza. Elia Caprile will be positioned in goal, providing a solid foundation for the defence. In front of him, the backline will consist of Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Mathias Olivera playing as full-backs, while Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno will occupy the centre-back positions, with Buongiorno notably having an impressive streak of not being dribbled past.
In midfield, Scott McTominay will play alongside Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, forming a robust trio. The attacking front will feature Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wings, with Romelu Lukaku leading the line as the central striker, aiming to exploit the spaces created by his teammates.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; McTominay, Lobotka, Anguissa; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia
AC Monza
Monza will be looking for inspiration from Gianluca Caprari, who scored in the Coppa Italia and is now on the verge of reaching a significant milestone—his 50th Serie A goal. Caprari has struggled to find the net recently, failing to score in his last 15 top-flight appearances.
He is expected to partner with Daniel Maldini in supporting striker Milan Djuric. However, Monza may be without Dany Mota, who is dealing with a muscular problem. The squad will also miss several key players due to injury, including Samuele Birindelli, Patrick Ciurria, Roberto Gagliardini, Samuele Vignato, and goalkeeper Alessio Cragno. Midfielder Stefano Sensi is also considered a doubt for the match.
In the 3-4-2-1 system, Stefano Turati will start in goal, with a defensive trio consisting of Armando Izzo, Pablo Mari, and Andrea Carboni. In midfield, Monza will feature Pedro Pereira and Giorgos Kyriakopoulos as wing-backs, alongside Mattia Bondo and captain Matteo Pessina in central roles.
In attack, Daniel Maldini and Gianluca Caprari will support Milan Djuric, who will feature as the central striker. This formation aims to balance defensive solidity with a dynamic offensive approach, especially with Caprari seeking to regain his scoring touch.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bondo, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Caprari; Djuric
Key Stats
- Napoli have won and scored exactly four goals in two of their four Serie A matches against Monza. However, they have drawn and lost in the other two, without scoring.
- Monza has avoided defeat in five of their seven away matches against Napoli in both Serie A and Serie B (W2 D3). However, they suffered defeats in the only two occasions when the two teams faced each other in Napoli before October of the season: 5-0 in Serie B on September 20, 1964, and 4-0 in Serie A on August 21, 2022.
- Napoli has picked up 10 points in the first five matchdays of the current league season. A win against Monza would bring their total to 13, marking a milestone as they have reached or surpassed this in six of the previous eight Serie A campaigns.
- Among teams currently in Serie A, Monza is experiencing the longest winless run in league competition at 14 games (D6 L8). The last non-promoted Lombard team to record a longer streak without a win in the top flight was Atalanta in 1994 (16).
- Napoli have won their first two home league games under Antonio Conte. If he manages to win each of the first three home games for the Partenopei in Serie A, he will become the sixth manager to achieve this feat, following notable predecessors.
Player to Watch
Romelu Lukaku
The Belgian is a seasoned striker with a proven goalscoring track record, Lukaku has the ability to change the game with his physical presence and clinical finishing. After reuniting with Antonio Conte at Napoli, he has already begun to make an impact by providing support in the final third alongside fellow star attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Lukaku’s ability to hold up play and link up with attacking midfielders will be crucial for Napoli, especially as they aim to break down a Monza defence that has struggled in recent outings. With his experience and hunger to score, he is likely to be a focal point of Napoli’s attack and could play a significant role in securing a vital victory.
Prediction
SSC Napoli 3-1 AC Monza
With Napoli riding high on confidence and attacking form, they are the favourites to win this match. Monza will need to produce a monumental effort to upset the home side. Expect a strong performance from Napoli, resulting in a 3-1 victory over Monza.
