Lecce vs. Monza, a lunchtime six-pointer

Lecce and Monza will meet in a 12:30 CET kick-off at the Via del Mare. After drawing with Empoli, beating Venezia and coming away with a point against Juventus, the Salentini lost 4-1 to Roma last week. Their aim is to win another crucial six-pointer to climb the table and put distance between themselves and Monza. The Brianzoli have only won once in Serie A Enilive this campaign – against Verona on 21 October – and, after draws against Torino and Como, their defeat to Udinese last time out has further complicated their situation.

HEAD TO HEAD

In the four previous Serie A matches between Lecce and Monza, there were three 1-1 draws and a 1-0 away win for Lecce; therefore, the Salento haveteam scored exactly one goal in each of the four matches against the Biancorossi in the Italian top-flight. Lecce are unbeaten in the four home matches played between Serie A and Serie B against Monza in the current century: three draws and a single victory, a 3-0 in the Cadetteria on 01/10/2021 (goals scored by Strefezza, Di Mariano and Tail).

DID YOU KNOW?

Monza have collected just 10 points so far in the current Italian top-flight, 11 less than the 21 they collected after the first 15 MD of the 2023/24 season: the Brianza team is the team with the largest deficit in points compared to the same period of the last edition of the tournament. Monza have collected seven of their 10 points in this Serie A away from home, 70%: this is the highest percentage of away points out of total points in the current Italian top-flight. Monza have conceded the most headed goals in this Serie A campaign (eight), immediately followed by Lecce in this ranking (six, alongsideTorino).

PLAYERS

Monza are the only team against which Nikola Krstovic scored in both the first and second half of last season's Serie A and could become the first team against which he counts at least three goals scored in the Italian top-flight. Among the Serie A defenders in this season, only Nuno Tavares (eight) has been involved in more goals than Georgios Kyriakopoulos (five, thanks to two goals and three assists); it is already the Greek player ‘s best season in the Italian top-flight in terms of goal involvements (alongside the 2021/22 tournament, in which he provided five assists without ever scoring for Sassuolo).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: Maldini (Monza)

REFEREE

MARIANI (CAPALDO – BAHRI) IV: AYROLDI, VAR: DI PAOLO, AVAR: MAGGIONI

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Lecce-Lazio (Saturday 21 December, 20:45 CET) Monza-Juventus (Sunday 22 December, 20.45 CET) (Photo Getty Images)