Monza v Cagliari: Lucchesi suspended as visitors seek fifth straight away win
Monza are without Lorenzo Lucchesi as they face Cagliari in Serie A, level on points with the relegation places. The visitors arrive sixth after four…
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Lorenzo Lucchesi has started each of Monza’s last five matches, but suspension rules him out against a Cagliari side chasing a fifth consecutive away win. With Monza level on points with the relegation places, his absence removes a regular starter from a team with four points after six league games.
The hosts sit 15th ahead of this Week 7 meeting. Cagliari arrive in sixth, nine points above them and occupying a Conference League qualification place.
Lucchesi serves a suspension following a red card. Monza also have five injury absences: E. Zeballos, I. Toure and M. Pessina are out with knee injuries, J. Ziolkowski has a foot injury and Y. Maye is sidelined by a muscle injury.
The confirmed Monza side lines up in a 3-4-2-1. Noel Törnqvist starts in goal behind Eddy Kouadio, Saba Goglichidze and Andrea Carboni. Samuele Birindelli, Manga Foe Ondoa, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Ricardo Mangas form the midfield four, with Dany Mota and Jay Robinson supporting Gustavo Varela.
That is the defensive trio tasked with facing a Cagliari attack that has scored in each of its last five matches. Monza have a scoring sequence of their own, having found the net in eight consecutive games, but their league goal difference stands at minus six.
Cagliari are without M. Felici and R. Idrissi because of knee injuries, while Y. Trepy is also ruled out through injury.
Their confirmed 4-3-1-2 features Elia Caprile in goal, with Zé Pedro, Yerry Mina, Juan Rodríguez and Adam Obert across the back. Michel Adopo, Harry Winks and Alessandro Romano make up the midfield, while Daniel Maldini plays behind Paul Mendy and M’bala Nzola.
Maldini’s position behind the two forwards gives Monza’s back three a defined attacking unit to contend with. At the other end, Mota and Robinson start behind Varela as the hosts look to extend their scoring run.
Monza’s most recent league outing ended in a 3-1 defeat away to Lazio. Their six league matches have produced one win, one draw and four defeats, leaving them level on points with the bottom three despite sitting above those places.
Cagliari’s latest result was a 1-1 home draw with Juventus. Four wins, one draw and one defeat have brought them 13 points from six matches, with a goal difference of plus three.
Their away record supplies the clearest contrast between the sides: Cagliari are unbeaten in five away matches and have won the last four. They also begin this fixture six points behind leaders Inter, who have played seven games to Cagliari’s six.
The match kicks off on Monday 19 October at 18:30 CEST. It is the seventh league fixture of the season for both clubs, giving Monza a chance to move clear of the relegation places on points and Cagliari an opportunity to add to their top-six total.
Questions
Why is Lorenzo Lucchesi missing for Monza?
Lucchesi is suspended following a red card. He started each of Monza’s last five matches.
Are Monza in the relegation zone?
Monza are 15th out of 20 teams, but they are level on points with the relegation places. They have four points from six league matches.
How strong is Cagliari’s recent away record?
Cagliari are unbeaten in five away matches and have won their last four away games.
