Serie A

Como vs. Monza, a fight for survival

Como and Monza face off at the Sinigaglia with just one point separating them: both teams need a win to move away from the bottom of the table

It’s a Lombardy derby and six pointer between Como and Monza which will open up the schedule on Saturday. Fabregas’ side have only gained two points in their last seven matches since their two consecutive wins at the end of September.

Monza have the same goal, as their recent draw against Torino ended a streak of three consecutive losses. They sit one point behind their opponents and have won just once in this league campaign, against Verona on 21 October.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

After remaining unbeaten in eight consecutive matches (W5 D3) against Como in Serie B and Serie C, Monza lost the last encounter in the second-tier in April 2022 (0-2); the Brianzoli could suffer back-to-back defeats against the Larians for the first time since 1997-2009, both in the third division.

DID YOU KNOW?

Como are, along with Bochum and Montpellier, one of only three teams yet to have kept a clean sheet in the big five European leagues this season. In fact, only twice in their history have the Larians failed to keep a clean sheet in the first 14 Serie A matches of a season: in 1981/82 and 2022/03 (relegated at the end of both seasons). Monza has won only one of their last 22 Serie A matches (D9 L12) - a 3-0 victory at Hellas Verona last October - and during this period (30th matchday of last season), Monza is the team that has earned the fewest points (only 12) among the clubs that have been in both of the last two seasons' leagues. 38% of Monza’s goals conceded in Serie A this season have been headers, the highest share in the division. However, Como are the only side yet to score a headed goal so far this term.

PLAYERS

Patrick Cutrone has not scored a goal in his last seven Serie A appearances: since the beginning of October, only Lecce's Krstovic (21) has attempted more shots than the Como striker (17) without finding the net in the topflight. Milan Djuric has scored 12 headed goals in Serie A, including the most recent one against Torino; in the last four seasons, among players currently active in the big five European leagues, only Robert Lewandowski (13), Erling Haaland (14), and Harry Kane (23) have scored more headers than the Monza forward.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Dossena (Como), Izzo (Monza) Cautioned: Moreno (Como), Maldini (Monza)

REFEREE

SACCHI (MASTRODONATO – VOTTA) IV: AYROLDI, VAR: MARINI, AVAR: NASCA

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Venezia-Como (sunday 8 december, 18.00 CET) Monza-Udinese (monday 9 december, 20.45 CET) (Photo LaPresse)