Lecce vs Monza: A Serie A Battle for Survival

Separated by three points in the Serie A standings, and sitting either side of the dotted line, relegation rivals Lecce and Monza will meet on Sunday at the Stadio Via del Mare. The visitors head for Stadio Via del Mare on the back of a long winless run, while their hosts' recent revival was quelled last weekend. This match promises to be a tense encounter, with both teams desperate for points to avoid the drop.

Lecce's Recent Form and Challenges

Having previously pulled level on points with last week's opponents Roma, after the arrival of new coach Marco Giampaolo brought about an uptick in fortunes, Lecce were still in contention to surpass their hosts at half time. A penalty converted by Nikola Krstovic sent them down the tunnel all square at 1-1, but the Salentini's second-half collapse then saw Claudio Ranieri's men run out 4-1 winners at Stadio Olimpico. Responding to a change of management, Lecce had finally posted their first away win at Venezia, then snatched a last-gasp point at home to Juventus, but that brief unbeaten streak was swiftly ended in the Eternal City. Still heavily reliant on Krstovic - who has scored as many times in one UEFA Nations League match with Montenegro as for his club this season - the Giallorossi have registered the fewest different scorers in Serie A: only four so far. They will therefore be keen to step up a gear against one of the few teams below them in the table, having previously gone undefeated through four top-flight meetings with Monza to date.

Lecce's Injury Concerns

Lecce will be without half of their regular back four this weekend, as Kialonda Gaspar has joined Antonino Gallo on the sidelines due to injury; Lameck Banda, Kevin Bonifazi and Filip Marchwinski are also ruled out. Andy Pelmard - a possible defensive replacement - has been laid low by illness and is therefore a doubt, but in better news for Marco Giampaolo, midfielder Balthazar Pierret has returned to full training. Leading the hosts' attack, Nikola Krstovic scored in both games against Monza last season, while Santiago Pierotti and Tete Morente should provide his supply from out wide.

Monza's Desperate Search for a Win

Looking up at 16th-placed Lecce, Monza are mired in the Serie A drop zone ahead of Sunday's game, with just 10 points on the board so far. That meagre tally is less than half of the 21 they had collected by this stage last season, representing the largest such deficit of any team in the Italian top flight. Alessandro Nesta's men are winless in seven matches after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Udinese on Monday, leaving them in 19th place approaching the halfway point of their 2024-25 campaign. The Brianzoli have not tasted success since October and were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia last week, so a lengthy survival fight now looms for a club that secured safe mid-table finishes in both seasons since their historic promotion. There is a glimmer of hope for Monza fans this week, though, as they have picked up 70% of their points on the road - the highest share throughout Serie A.

Monza's Key Players and Injuries

Monza's main threat may not come from veteran striker Milan Djuric but Greek wing-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos, whose recent strike against Udinese took him on to five goal involvements for the season - that already equals his best Serie A tally. Gianluca Caprari and Daniel Maldini are set to support Djuric in the final third, though the claims of Dany Mota cannot be counted out. Once again, the Biancorossi are without injured goalkeeper Alessio Cragno, and midfield duo Roberto Gagliardini and Matteo Pessina - the latter pair's fitness issues have accelerated a potential loan move for Chelsea's Cesare Casadei.

Tactical Analysis and Potential Outcomes

Crosses and set-pieces could play a part in this game's outcome, as Monza have conceded the most headed goals in Serie A (eight), with Lecce lying joint-second (six) in those rankings. The visitors' wait for a win may come to its end, as their hosts are still unstable at the back and are by far the lowest scorers in Italy's top flight. Both teams have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, making a low-scoring affair a distinct possibility. Lecce's defensive vulnerabilities, coupled with Monza's improved away form, suggest a potential draw is on the cards. However, Lecce's home advantage and Monza's winless streak could tilt the balance. The match will likely be a tight affair, with both teams vying for control in midfield.

A Pivotal Clash

This match is crucial for both teams' survival hopes. Lecce needs to build on their recent positive performances and secure a win to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone. Monza, on the other hand, desperately needs a victory to kickstart their season and climb out of the relegation battle. The outcome will have significant implications for the remainder of the season, influencing the fight to avoid relegation.

Lecce possible starting lineup: Falcone; Guilbert, Baschiroto, Jean, Dorgu; Coulibaly, Rafia, Ramadani; Pierotti, Krstovic, Morente

Monza possible starting lineup: Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Caprari; Djuric