Following their sixth loss in eight competitive fixtures with a 2-1 defeat to Lecce, Monza’s decline has persisted, leaving them languishing in the relegation zone with only one league victory this season (D7, L8). This predicament is further highlighted by the fact that Monza had accrued seven more points at the equivalent stage of their inaugural Serie A campaign in 2022/23, during which they secured their first home win against upcoming adversaries Juventus in the seventh round.
Alessandro Nesta’s side faces the challenging task of halting their current three-game losing streak at Stadio Brianteo, all of which have seen Monza trailing 1-0 at half-time. Achieving this will be no small feat for a team that has amassed a league-low of three home points (D3, L6). However, with two of those draws occurring against Roma and Inter Milan, there remains a glimmer of hope for the hosts.
In just a few days, Juventus transitioned from the triumph of a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League to another draw in Serie A. The spotlight during their inability to overcome bottom-placed Venezia (2-2) was on Dušan Vlahović, who went from hero to zero after scoring a last-minute penalty and then engaging in a heated exchange with some Juventus fans right after the match ended.
This marked Juventus’s fourth successive league draw, setting an undesirable club record for the most draws in their first 16 Serie A matches (ten). Nevertheless, their games have remained gripping until the end, as each of their last three Serie A fixtures has seen a team equalising during stoppage time.
Key players to monitor: Due to Juventus’ ongoing struggle with stalemates, Milan Djurić has netted five of his last seven goals in drawn matches, with his sole goal against this rival occurring in a 2-2 tie. On the other hand, Juventus defender Federico Gatti poses a threat in attack, as four of his last five Serie A goals were the first of the match, including his recent strike against Venezia last weekend.
Significant statistic: Juventus have been unable to score in the first half in each of their last four competitive away fixtures.
