Lecce vs Monza Preview: Team News & Prediction
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These are two of the strugglers down at the bottom end of the Serie A table but to different extents with the visitors in particular now coming under growing and intense pressure.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 15th December, 2024: UK – 11:30am / US ET – 6:30am / US PT – 3:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Lecce Preview: Luca’s Lecce
Lecce steered themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places last season following the appointment of the experienced Luca Gotti during the March international break. He remains in charge of the Apulia-based club as they sit outside of the bottom three.
Gotti is known for a very limited attacking style of football and that is shown by the fact they have scored just eight goals in their 15 matches so far this season, five fewer than anyone else. They come into this one on the back of a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Roma.
Monza Preview: Nesta’s Monza
Over the summer, after the departure of Raffaele Palladino to Fiorentina, Monza took the decision to appoint AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta. The visitors have badly struggled as was to be expected with Nesta having quite an underwhelming managerial record in the past.
The visitors begin the weekend sitting firmly tucked inside the bottom three and the relegation places with just one win in their opening 15 games. They come into this one on the back of a 2-1 loss at home to Udinese in their most recent outing last weekend.
Lecce Team News: Several injuries
Lecce are dealing with several injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s visit of Monza. Defenders Kevin Bonifazi and Kialonda Gaspar are sidelined alongside the likes of Joan Gonzalez, Balthazer Pierret and Lameck Banda.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Falcone; Baschirotto, Pelmard, Jean; Guilbert, Coulibaly, Ramadani, Dorgu; Rafia; Krstovic, Rebic
Unavailable: Bonifazi (Injured), Gallo (Injured), Gaspar (Injured), Pierret (Injured), Joan Gonzalez (Injured), Pierret (Injured), Banda (Injured)
Questionable: Marchwinski (Injured), Sansone (Illness)
Monza Team News: No Gagliardini or Pessina
Italy international midfield duo Roberto Gagliardini and Matteo Pessina remain sidelined due to respective thigh injuries for this weekend. As well as those two key absentees, both Alessio Cragno and Samuele Vignato are also unavailable.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Turati; Izzo, Pablo Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bondo, Bianco, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Caprari; Djuric
Unavailable: Cragno (Injured), Gagliardini (Injured), Pessina (Injured), Vignato (Injured)
Questionable:
Lecce vs Monza Prediction
As mentioned, Lecce have scored just eight goals in their 15 games throughout this campaign and that is no coincidence because they have quite a limited set of attacking personnel combined with a defensive style of football. Monza are one of the two teams that are joint second lowest for goals scored, notching just 13 times with Alessandro Nesta relying too much on inconsistent players like Daniel Maldini and Gianluca Caprari. A low-scoring encounter is to be expected for this one down in Apulia.
Lecce vs Monza Tip: Under 2.5 goals
