Fresh from seeing their relegation confirmed last week, Monza visit mid-table Udinese for Serie A's Sunday lunchtime kickoff.
While the Brianzoli are now aiming to avoid being the worst team in Italian top-flight history, their hosts have one eye on a top-10 finish.
Match preview
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With both goals and points drying up, Udinese were relieved to score twice and claim victory against Cagliari last time out, as Oier Zarraga and Thomas Kristensen struck in either half to secure a 2-1 away win.
Following a previous run of five defeats in a row, the Bianconeri have now earned four points from their last two matches, keeping them in contention for a top-half finish - Como and Torino are their main rivals.
Having narrowly escaped relegation this time last year, even their safe 12th-placed spot in the standings represents success for the Friuli club, and the worst they can finish is 13th.
As they have failed to score in their last three home games, losing twice, Kosta Runjaic's side will be keen to end that drought on Sunday, when they host Serie A's rock-bottom team.
To date, Udinese and Monza have both drawn of their top-flight meetings in Udine - 2-2 two years ago, then 0-0 in February 2024 - but the home side are firm favourites for maximum points.
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Following December's 2-1 home defeat, Monza have yet to beat Udinese in Serie A across five attempts - and this may be their last chance to do so for quite some time.
In disarray and destined for second-tier football next season, the Brianzoli were formally demoted last weekend, while many of their players are out of contract this summer.
After losing 4-0 at home to Atalanta BC, which put the final nail in their coffin, Alessandro Nesta's side are still stuck on a meagre 15 points with just three games to go.
The last team to end a Serie A season with 15 or fewer points was Ancona in 2003-04 (13); but in a 20-team campaign, Salernitana (17 in 2023-24) have set the low bar.
At the end of their first spell among Italy's elite, Monza seem to be going down with a whimper, having failed to even score in their last four games.
They have also lost each of their last 10 on the road, conceding goals at a rate above two per game, so expectations will be low as they travel north this weekend.
Team News
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Udinese can now recall top scorer Lorenzo Lucca following his spell on the sidelines with a calf injury, and the Italy striker will challenge Keinan Davis to start up front - they may even join forces.
Lucca's usual strike partner Florian Thauvin is still ruled out by a foot problem, but Kingsley Ehizibue and Martin Payero are back in the fold after serving their respective suspensions.
Both Lucca and Jaka Bijol scored in December's reverse fixture, and they have long been subject of transfer speculation. The latter, who helms Udinese's back three, has made the most clearances (178) and interceptions (37) for his club this season.
Meanwhile, Monza have kept a settled side since Alessandro Nesta returned from his mid-season sacking - albeit to little effect. Goal-shy strikers Dany Mota and Gianluca Caprari could be paired again: the latter has laid on five assists against Udinese across his Serie A career.
Though Nesta has lost veteran defender Luca Caldirola to injury, Andrea Carboni is back from a ban and first-choice goalkeeper Stefano Turati has recovered from an illness.
In addition to Caldirola, Kevin Zeroli, Keita Balde, Silvere Ganvoula, Armando Izzo, Matteo Pessina and Roberto Gagliardini are all ruled out.
Udinese possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Karlstrom, Lovric, Kamara; Lucca, Davis
Monza possible starting lineup:
Turati; Pereira, Lekovic, Palacios; Birindelli, Castrovilli, Bianco, Akpa Akpro, Kyriakopoulos; Caprari, Mota
We say: Udinese 2-0 Monza
Buoyed by last week's overdue win, Udinese should see off Monza's meek challenge without too much fuss.
The Friulani are far from prolific, but they possess enough firepower to exploit any errors in their visitors' leaky defence.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
