The forthcoming clash between Monza and Cagliari in gameweek 29 of the Serie A at the U-Power Stadium on Saturday is characterized by a five-place difference in the league standings. Monza, the home team, has ascended to a mid-table position following a successful run of three victories in four matches. Conversely, Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari side has experienced a surge in form, transitioning from 19th to 15th place, propelled by recent favorable outcomes in their campaign to avoid relegation.
Match preview
Monza’s recent string of victories was abruptly halted with a 4-1 defeat to Roma two weekends ago. However, their subsequent 3-2 triumph over Genoa catapulted them back into 10th place in Serie A standings, a position they had not occupied since round 16.
Despite maintaining a consistent presence around the 11th and 12th spots in recent weeks, Raffaele Palladino’s team aims to surpass Lazio in the standings. Lazio, currently in retreat and navigating the aftermath of Maurizio Sarri’s departure, present an opportunity for Monza to advance.
Monza’s previous home matches had seen a streak of three games without defeat until Roma’s formidable form put an end to it. Nonetheless, they anticipate initiating a new unbeaten streak at the U-Power Stadium in the forthcoming fixture.
Their performance at home this season has been lackluster, securing only five victories on their home turf, a record surpassed by only five other clubs in the league, including two from the bottom three.
Having remained undefeated in five of their last six encounters against this weekend’s adversary, Palladino’s squad is hopeful of maintaining this trend against a formidable opponent.
Their recent resurgence in Serie A, with five wins in the last 10 matches compared to just five wins in the initial 18 fixtures, instills confidence in Monza’s capabilities for the upcoming fixture.
However, facing Ranieri’s Cagliari poses a significant challenge. Cagliari approaches gameweek 29 in stellar form, accumulating eight points from the last four matches.
Cagliari’s recent unbeaten streak has propelled them from second-bottom to 15th position, displacing Empoli, who suffered consecutive defeats under Davide Nicola after an initially unbeaten start.
Cagliari’s recent triumph over Nicola’s side at the beginning of March marked their first away victory of the campaign, and they seek to secure consecutive away wins in the current season.
Notably, Cagliari has not achieved a three-game winning streak under Ranieri’s tenure, with their last such sequence occurring under Leonardo Semplici in April 2021.
Considering Cagliari’s historical struggles at the venue, where they have not claimed maximum points since 1990, they face a formidable challenge on Saturday as they endeavor to break a 24-match winless streak against Monza.
Team News
Papu Gomez remains sidelined from active participation due to a two-year doping ban imposed in October 2023.
Roberto Gagliardini and Samuele Vignato are currently unable to compete due to a shoulder injury and muscle ailment respectively, with their return anticipated by April. Meanwhile, Danilo D’Ambrosio’s availability for upcoming matches remains uncertain as he approaches a potential return to play.
Andrea Colpani’s contributions to Monza, totaling eleven involvements in goals comprising seven goals and four assists, stand as a shared record within the team, matching the achievements of Patrick Ciurria and Carlos Augusto from the previous season. Colpani, aged 24, requires one additional contribution to establish himself as the sole record holder for the Biancorossi.
Cagliari’s Marko Rog and Zito Luvumbo are projected to remain sidelined until the conclusion of the current month due to knee and thigh injuries respectively, whereas Leonardo Pavoletti is expected to be absent until April owing to a foot injury. Marco Mancosu’s availability remains uncertain as he recuperates from a knee issue, with his fitness status slated for evaluation prior to Saturday’s fixture.
Gianluca Gaetano has proven to be a significant asset for Ranieri’s squad since his arrival at the beginning of February, having already scored three goals. His performance could potentially surpass that of Matteo Pessina from Monza and Riccardo Orsolini from Bologna, positioning him as a standout Italian scorer in the upcoming weekend.
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Birindelli, Izzo, Mari, A. Carboni; Pessina, Bondo; Mota, Colpani, V. Carboni; Djuric
Cagliari possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Augello; Nandez, Makoumbou, Jankto, Deiola; Gaetano; Lapadula