The concluding fixture of the upcoming Italian Championship round between Monza and Fiorentina promises plenty of action. With neither team enjoying fruitful recent spells, both are eager to turn their fortunes around by securing points on Monday.
Monza's defeat to Cagliari (1:2) marked their sixth consecutive loss, including an elimination from the Coppa Italia by Bologna (0:4). Although the appointment of Salvatore Bocchetti has shown some improvement, Monza have consistently been involved in matches hitting a total over 2.5, doing so five times in a row. For the upcoming match, the underdogs will be without Danilo D’Ambrosio, the former Inter player, who is suspended, leaving a gap in their three-man defence.
In the latter half of December, Fiorentina lost the sparkle that had seen them comfortably winning across all competitions. Nevertheless, they remain among the top creators in Serie A, achieving 28.86 xG — the eighth best. In their last three outings, they’ve seen a total over 2.5 consistently as well. On the road, Fiorentina have netted 15 times in nine away matches — only three teams boast a higher tally.
In the first leg, Fiorentina could only manage a draw against their manager’s former team (2:2). Clearly, the pressure on both sides will not subside at Monza’s ground, so goals are anticipated.
