Napoli look to build off an impressive debut against Hellas Verona, while Monza seek their first ever Serie A victory.
SSC Napoli
With an impressive 5-2 victory at the ever-hostile Stadio Bentegodi, Napoli reminded their doubters that, despite plenty of change, their a still a force to be reckoned with. Five different goalscorers – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen, Piotr Zielinski, Stanislav Lobotka and Matteo Politano opened their 2022/23 accounts.
Napoli continued to add depth and quality to the squad during the week. Giovanni Simeone officially joined Napoli Thursday, while Tanguy Ndombele and Giacomo Raspadori completed their medicals on Friday. All three players are expected to be presented at a sold out Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday.
AC Monza
Monza opened their season with a 1-2 defeat at home Torino in the first ever Serie A match for i brianzoli. The first half was evenly contested with Filippo Ranocchia coming close on a couple of occasions. Aleksei Miranchuk took the wind out of Monza’s sails with the opening goal late in the first half. Torino controlled the run of play at the start of the second half and doubled their lead with an acrobatic goal from Antonio Sanabria. With the introductions of Patrick Ciurria and Dany Mota, Monza’s play improved in the final quarter of the match. Mota scored Monza’s first ever Serie A goal with the final kick of the match.
The biacorossi have been the most active club during the summer transfer market, having already brought in 13 new faces:
- Andrea Ranocchio (free transfer);
- Alessio Cragno and Andrea Carboni from Cagliari;
- Stefano Sensi from Sampdoria;
- Matteo Pessina from Atalanta;
- Samuele Birindelli from Pisa;
- Alessandro Sorrentino from Pescara;
- Gianluca Caprari from Hellas Verona;
- Filippo Ranocchia from Juventus;
- Warren Bondo (free transfer);
- Marlon from Shakhtar Donestsk;
- Pablo Mari from Arsenal; and
- Andrea Petagna from Napoli.
Though they are also linked to Juventus midfielder Nicolò Rovella, Monza now have an abundance of players and will likely spend the balance of the transfer window reducing the squad.
Injuries/Suspensions
Monza will play this match without central defender Carlos Augusto, who suffered an ankle injury in the 57th minute of Monza’s opening match against Torino. Giovanni Stroppa confirmed on Saturday that Dany Mota will miss the match as well.
For Napoli, Diego Demme could be out until September with a foot injury sustained in training on Thursday.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Luciano Spalletti:
“Many teams have put their hand to the staff making then different evaluations. Monza made 13-14 signings. Only managers like Galliani can convince quality people of the Monza project such as Ranocchia, Caprari, Sensi, Pessina, Petagna himself. He is a golden boy. I will thank him for what he has given us.”
Giovanni Stroppa:
“The pressures are given to you by the opponent and the category. They are technical, physical and condition pressures to confront these teams. There is the will to put things right, from the physical condition to the identity, we have many qualities. After that we will play our championship, I hope as a protagonist. We must continue to believe in what we do. Spalletti is a sacred monster. He is certainly a reference like other coaches in Serie A, among the best in the world.”
Previous Meetings
January 1, 2000 (Serie B) | SSC Napoli | 2-2 | AC Monza |
September 5, 1999 (Serie B) | AC Monza | 0-0 | SSC Napoli |
May 30, 1999 (Serie B) | SSC Napoli | 1-2 | AC Monza |
January 10, 1999 (Serie B) | AC Monza | 0-1 | SSC Napoli |
August 28, 1996 (Coppa Italia) | AC Monza | 0-1 | SSC Napoli |
Match Officials
Head Official: Francesco Forneau
Assistants: Gaetano Massara and Gianluca Sechi
Fourth Official: Daniele Rutella
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati and Daniele Paterna