Juventus will be hoping to improve their league form when they face Monza in a crucial Serie A clash on Sunday at the U-Power Stadium. As the season approaches the holiday break, both teams are eager to secure a vital win that could significantly impact their standings.
Juventus enter this match still unbeaten in the league but have struggled to convert draws into wins, managing only six victories so far this season. Their most recent outing ended in another disappointing draw against Venezia, where a late penalty from Dusan Vlahovic salvaged a point for the Bianconeri. This lack of winning momentum has placed them in sixth position, trailing league leaders Atalanta by nine points. Despite their struggles domestically, Juventus recently found success in the Coppa Italia, defeating Cagliari 4-0, which could provide a much-needed morale boost ahead of their encounter with Monza.
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On the other hand, Monza are grappling with a challenging season. Currently sitting in the relegation zone, they have not secured a home victory yet and are winless since October. Their recent performances have been lacklustre, highlighted by a defeat against Lecce where they failed to register a single shot on target. With only three points gained from a possible 24 at home, Monza is desperate for a turnaround as they aim to avoid slipping further into Serie B.
Historically, Juventus has had the upper hand against Monza since their promotion to Serie A. However, Monza achieved their first-ever top-flight victory against Juventus back in September 2022 and will be looking to replicate that success as they seek to upset their more illustrious opponents once again.
### Team News
Juventus, under the guidance of Thiago Motta, are expected to make several changes following their cup match. The squad has been plagued by injuries, with key players like Bremer and Arkadiusz Milik sidelined. However, the return of Nico Gonzalez could be pivotal as he looks to make an impact in the attacking third alongside Vlahovic. Teun Koopmeiners will also be crucial; he has historically performed well against Monza and will aim to continue that trend.
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Monza’s head coach Alessandro Nesta faces his own challenges with injuries affecting his squad. Milan Djuric remains unavailable, joining several other key players on the sidelines. Nevertheless, Nesta will likely rely on Gianluca Caprari and Dany Mota to lead the line against a Juventus defense that has been solid but occasionally vulnerable
### Expected Starting XIs
**Monza:** Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Pereira, Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Caprari; Maric
**Juventus:** Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Danilo; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
### Match Prediction
As both teams prepare for this encounter, expectations are high for Juventus to capitalize on Monza’s struggles. While Juventus has shown defensive resilience throughout the season, their attacking inconsistencies remain a concern. Conversely, Monza’s inability to score and lack of home advantage could hinder their chances of claiming all three points.
**Prediction:** Monza 0-2 Juventus