Lecce vs Monza Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Two teams that are expected to be involved in Serie A’s relegation battle this season face off this weekend as Lecce welcome Monza down to Apulia on Sunday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – DAZN / USA – Paramount+ & DAZN
How to watch online: UK – DAZN / USA – Paramount+ & DAZN
Lecce preview: Perennial strugglers
Having narrowly avoided relegation in each of the last two seasons, Lecce are expected to struggle once again this time around under the management of former Roma and Frosinone boss Eusebio Di Francesco.
Lecce did begin their season with a 2-0 win away at Venezia in their opener but the hosts have since succumbed to back-to-back defeats; 4-0 at home to Roma before then being beaten 1-0 away from home against Cagliari in Sardinia.
Monza preview: Back in Serie A
Following their promotion to the top-flight last season, Monza have started the 2026-27 Serie A campaign with a point collected from their three matches thus far – but they have been competitive in all three games.
After a 4-1 loss to defending champions Internazionale and then a 3-2 defeat at home to Udinese, Monza have since beaten Torino in the Coppa Italia before sharing a 1-1 draw with Parma at the Ennio Tardini last week.
Lecce team news: Geubbels not yet fully fit
Star summer signing Willem Geubbels remains a doubt for the visit of Monza this weekend with the versatile attacker a doubt due to an ankle issue.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ngom, Ilic; Pierotti, Stulic, Monteiro
Unavailable:
Questionable: Geubbels (Injured)
Monza team news: Several doubts
Monza have several attacking doubts for the trip to Lecce with fresh issues including winger Cyril Ngonge and former AC Milan striker Patrick Cutrone.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Thiam; Kouadio, Lucchesi, Carboni; Birindelli, Akinsanmiro, Folorunsho, Mangas; Forson, Robinson; Dany Mota
Unavailable: Ziolkowski (Injured), Toure (Injured), Pessina (Injured)
Questionable: Ngonge (Injured), Cutrone (Injured), Varela (Injured), Ciurria (Injured)
Lecce vs Monza prediction
Eusebio Di Francesco has often been accused of tactical naivety and leaving his teams too easy to play against. He shifted away from that with Lecce last year but has since attempted to evolve things again, as exposed by a 4-0 loss to Roma a couple of weeks ago. Monza have been more proactive than many would anticipate, too, so while both sides lack quality and will be cautious of giving a likely direct rival three points, it may be a better watch than many would naturally expect here at Stadio Comunale Via del Mare.
Lecce vs Monza tip: Both teams to score
