Empoli vs Monza

Stadio Carlo Castellani sets the stage for Empoli’s opening 2024/25 Serie A match against Monza.

Despite spending most of last season in Serie A’s lower reaches, Empoli upheld their top-flight status, finishing only one point clear of the drop zone, courtesy of a last-gasp 2-1 home win against Roma on the final day. Eager to avoid another stressful season, ‘Gli Azzurri’ appointed seasoned tactician Roberto D’Aversa as the new chief of staff in July. D’Aversa’s competitive debut was a resounding success as Empoli thrashed lower-league Catanzaro 4-1 in Coppa Italia action last week. An equally impressive league start is on the cards, considering Empoli had enjoyed an inspiring four-match unbeaten home run toward the end of the 2023/24 season (W3, D1). On a less positive note, the hosts have lost their opening-day clash in the last three Serie A seasons, casting doubt on their bid to beat Monza here.

The visitors pieced together a more peaceful campaign last term but had to settle for a 12th-place finish despite being part of a top-half picture for most of the season. ‘I Biancorossi’ embark on a new chapter this term, with former AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta taking over the managerial reins after Raffaele Palladino left for Fiorentina. Nesta bids to inspire Monza to a rip-roaring league start on his top-flight debut after his team needed penalties to overcome sub-par Sudtirol in the Coppa Italia last week. However, slow starts have been synonymous with Monza in both previous Serie A campaigns. They only registered one win in their opening six league games of 2023/24 (D3, L2), though it was a 2-0 home victory against none other than Empoli. Worryingly for Nesta, five of Monza’s six previous trips to Carlo Castellani have ended in defeat (D1).