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Monza welcomes Napoli to U-Power Stadium on Wednesday, October 28, as both sides look to recover from disappointing results. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 PM CET.
Monza has seven points from its opening eight Serie A matches, while Napoli has 11. Both teams have been finding the net, but their defensive problems suggest another eventful evening could be ahead.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best odds: 79/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet
Monza has scored in every league match this season, which makes its position near the bottom of the table particularly frustrating.
Ivan Juric’s side has produced 15 goals in eight games, including 11 in four home appearances. Its last two league matches at U-Power Stadium brought a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo and a 4-0 win against Cagliari.
Friday’s 3-2 defeat at Torino exposed the other side of the team. Gustavo Varela equalized shortly after halftime, but Monza conceded twice more before a late own goal reduced the deficit.
Varela remains the biggest reason for optimism. The Portuguese striker has seven goals in seven Serie A appearances and has scored in three consecutive league matches.
Napoli’s depleted defense should give him opportunities to continue that run, particularly if Monza can force mistakes when the visitor tries to play out from the back.
Juric wants his team to press aggressively, although that approach also places considerable responsibility on the defenders behind the midfield. Monza has already conceded 18 league goals, and its enthusiasm going forward has too often left it vulnerable when an attack breaks down.
Against Napoli’s midfield runners, that could become an expensive problem.
Matteo Pessina, Ziolkowski and Maye remain unavailable. Monza has no suspended players for this fixture.
Juric could make changes after the defeat at Torino. Eddy Kouadio is pushing for a place in the back three, while Michael Folorunsho could replace Manga Foe Ondoa in midfield.
Tornqvist should continue in goal, with Saba Goglichidze and Andrea Carboni among the defensive options.
Samuele Birindelli and Ricardo Mangas are expected to provide width. Dany Mota and Jay Robinson are favored to support Varela, although Patrick Cutrone and Cyril Ngonge give Juric alternatives if he wants to change the attack.
Napoli’s last two matches have produced 13 goals, with plenty to admire going forward and just as much to question at the other end.
A 4-3 Champions League victory over Bodo/Glimt was followed by Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Roma. Napoli led three times against the capital club and still finished with only a point.
Scott McTominay scored twice in both matches. His return to scoring form has given Napoli a threat from midfield that Monza will have to track carefully, especially when its defenders are occupied by Rasmus Hojlund.
The Serie A match preview also underlines the defensive concern: Napoli has conceded 10 goals across its last four competitive matches.
McTominay could be dangerous from outside the penalty area as well. Monza has conceded six league goals from distance, and the Scot demonstrated his shooting ability again against Roma.
Napoli’s away record provides another reason to approach the outright result cautiously. Its last league trip ended in a 1-0 defeat at Venezia, and it has gone four away matches without a victory across all competitions.
There is enough attacking quality to trouble Monza, but recent performances offer little reassurance that Napoli can control the game once it takes the lead.
Benoit Badiashile and Leonardo Spinazzola are the latest additions to Napoli’s injury list after muscle injuries sustained against Roma.
Alessandro Buongiorno, Costantino Favasuli, David Neres and Alisson Santos are also unavailable.
Amir Rrahmani has recovered from illness and is included in the traveling squad. Giovanni Di Lorenzo has also been selected despite a recent knee knock.
Massimiliano Allegri begins a two-match touchline suspension, leaving Marco Landucci to direct the team from the bench.
Stanislav Lobotka could return to the starting midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne a possible candidate for a rest. Giovane is competing with Noa Lang for a place alongside Hojlund and Matteo Politano.
McTominay should retain his place after scoring four goals in two matches.
Monza’s scoring record gives the home side a credible route into this match. Varela is taking his chances, the team has been productive at U-Power Stadium, and Napoli arrives with further disruption to an already vulnerable defense.
Napoli should create opportunities of its own. McTominay’s movement and shooting are particularly relevant against a Monza side that has struggled to protect both its penalty area and the space immediately outside it.
Allegri will want better control after the Roma draw, but achieving that with several defenders unavailable will be difficult.
With attacking threats on both sides and recurring defensive mistakes, over 2.5 goals is the best selection.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best odds: 79/100
Bookmaker: 1xBet
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