Caught firmly in mid-table in Serie A, Monza find themselves in the strange position of wondering just what they have left to play for in the closing months of the season. With a comfortable 11-point cushion above the relegation zone, they could feasibly make a late bid for a European place. However, their recent form with just one win in their last five league games (D2, L2) raises questions about their ability to find the necessary momentum.
AC Milan, on the other hand, sit comfortably in the top half of the table and present a daunting challenge for Monza. Interestingly, Monza is the only team in Serie A this season that has failed to defeat a team starting the round in the top ten (D4, L7). As they face Milan, a team they have lost to in all three previous top-flight encounters, the odds seem stacked against them. The aggregate scoreline of 8-1 in favor of Milan further emphasizes the challenge Monza faces.
Milan will undoubtedly be eager to maintain their dominance over Monza and secure their fourth consecutive victory against them in Serie A. A victory in this match would make Monza the fifth team in Serie A history to suffer defeat in their first four top-flight encounters with Milan. With a resounding 3-0 victory over Rennes in the UEFA Europa League, Milan’s confidence should be high as they make the relatively short journey to Monza’s home ground. It’s worth noting that Milan emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline in their previous visit.
However, a repeat of that scoreline appears unlikely given Milan’s recent scoring prowess on the road. In their last eight away games across all competitions, Milan has found the back of the net at least twice. Ominously for Monza, Milan has scored three goals in each of their last three away games in Serie A, leaving them on the brink of creating history. Never before have they scored more than twice in four consecutive Serie A away games in a single season.
As the match unfolds, keep an eye on Andrea Colpani from Monza, who has been a standout performer this season. All seven of his goals have come on home soil, with four of them serving as game openers. On the Milan side, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s recent form is worth noting. He scored a brace against Rennes in midweek, and interestingly, his last three goals have all been headers.
A fascinating statistic to consider is that ten of Milan’s twelve away league games this season have witnessed at least two first-half goals. This suggests that the match between Monza and Milan could provide an exciting start with early goal-scoring opportunities.
In conclusion, Monza faces an uphill battle as they take on AC Milan, a team that has been dominant in their previous encounters. Monza’s struggle to defeat top-ten teams this season adds to the challenge they face. Meanwhile, Milan’s recent scoring exploits on the road make them a formidable opponent. As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on the performances of key players such as Andrea Colpani and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With the potential for an action-packed first half, fans can expect an exciting clash between these two teams in Serie A.
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