Prediction: Monza vs Fiorentina

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: BetUS

Fiorentina, looking to halt their slide down the Serie A table, will aim to get back on track with a win against bottom-placed Monza when the two sides clash on Monday.

The Viola suffered a comprehensive defeat at home in their opening game of 2025, while Monza began the New Year in the same struggling form that marked the end of 2024.

Monza

Including a dramatic 2-2 draw in September’s reverse fixture, Monza have faced Fiorentina seven times across Serie A and Serie B, earning just one victory. A stoppage-time equalizer by Robin Gosens denied Monza a win in Tuscany earlier this season, and points have remained elusive for the Biancorossi since then.

The decision to replace Alessandro Nesta with Salvatore Bocchetti last month has yet to yield results, with Monza still anchored to the bottom of the table.

After a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Parma to close out 2024 – where a late goal again proved costly – Monza suffered another setback against a relegation rival in their most recent match. Despite an early Gianluca Caprari penalty giving them the lead, they failed to hold on. Danilo D’Ambrosio’s red card compounded their woes, leading to a 2-1 loss.

Including an early Coppa Italia exit in December, Monza have now lost six consecutive matches, leaving them with a daunting challenge in the second half of the season.

History offers little comfort: in the past 20 years, only two of 13 teams with 10 points or fewer at the halfway mark—Crotone in 2017 and Cagliari in 2008—have avoided relegation. Monza will need a remarkable turnaround to defy the odds.

Team News

Monza’s squad has managed just 17 Serie A goals this season, and it remains unclear if Milan Djuric will return to lead their attack on Monday.

Alternatively, Dany Mota and Gianluca Caprari – who has scored five top-flight goals against Fiorentina – could form the front line, potentially supported by Daniel Maldini.

Georgios Kyriakopoulos may return after missing two games through injury, while Pablo Mari is available again following a suspension. However, D’Ambrosio must serve a ban, and midfielders Matteo Pessina and Roberto Gagliardini remain unavailable.

Fiorentina

After an impressive run of eight consecutive Serie A victories, Fiorentina have stumbled, losing three of their last four league matches and drawing the other while conceding eight goals.

Their most recent setback came in a 3-0 home defeat to title contenders Napoli, marking back-to-back league losses at Stadio Franchi for the first time since late 2023.

Though the Viola remain in contention for a top-four finish, their early-season momentum has clearly waned. Raffaele Palladino will look to capitalize on this dip with two favorable fixtures this week.

First, Fiorentina travel to Monza, where Palladino began his senior coaching career. During his tenure, he managed 70 Serie A games for the Brianzoli, successfully keeping them in the top flight twice—a tenure that earned him recognition from higher-profile clubs.

Returning to a ground filled with fond memories, Palladino will aim to secure all three points and compound his former club’s struggles before hosting a faltering Torino side next weekend.

Team News

Fiorentina are expected to have a full squad available for Monday, including recent loan signing Michael Folorunsho from Napoli, though fellow newcomer Nicolas Valentini is likely to start on the bench.

Raffaele Palladino might revert to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation after employing a three-man defense against Napoli. Albert Gudmundsson, now recovered from an ankle issue, and former Monza player Andrea Colpani are both in line for recalls.

Leading the attack, Moise Kean, the Viola’s top scorer with 15 goals across all competitions this season, is set to spearhead the lineup.

Conclusion

Fiorentina have an opportunity to reignite their campaign with a victory over Serie A’s bottom club, who are likely struggling with low confidence.

Despite their recent defensive frailties, the Viola possess enough attacking quality to find the net multiple times, securing three crucial points in their push for European qualification.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: BetUS