Monza vs Inter Milan preview & prediction

Match preview

After kicking off 2023 with a crucial win in midweek, Inter Milan will look to climb the Serie A standings again on Saturday when they travel to Monza.

Inter returned to action by handing leaders Napoli their first defeat of the season, while their Lombardy neighbours took a point home from Florence to move further clear of the drop zone.

In a tense match at San Siro on Wednesday, Edin Dzeko’s close-range header from an inviting Federico Dimarco cross helped Inter defeat Napoli, who were 11 points ahead of their Nerazzurri rivals before kickoff.

The veteran striker’s 56th-minute goal capped an impressive performance by Simone Inzaghi’s side, keeping their Scudetto hopes alive as the season entered the second half.

They are now in fourth place in the table, just two points behind second-placed Milan, and are unbeaten in their last 25 league matches against promoted sides, winning 22 of them.

Monza will host their Lombardy counterparts on Saturday, as their first-ever top-flight campaign continues into the new year.

The Biancorossi’s form has improved as the season has progressed, particularly since owners Adriano Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi decided to replace coach Giovanni Stroppa with a relative novice.

Before Qatar 2022, new manager Raffaele Palladino dragged the newcomers nine points clear of the relegation zone, and they eked out a point against Fiorentina in midweek to sit 15th after 16 games.

Monza vs Inter Milan Form Guide

Monza’s last 5 games – WLWLD

Fiorentina	1 – 1	Monza
Monza	1 – 4	Torino
lyon	1 – 2	Monza
Lugano	1 – 0	Monza
Monza	3 – 0	Salernitana

Inter Milan’s last 5 games – WDWWW

Inter Milan	1 – 0	Napoli
Sassuolo	0 – 1	Inter Milan
Reggina	0 – 2	Inter Milan
Real Betis	1 – 1	Inter Milan
Inter Milan	4 – 0	Fc Salzburg

Key stats

The two teams will be meeting for just the eighth time and will meet for the first time in Serie A. As expected, Inter have dominated proceedings, winning five of their seven meetings in Coppa Italia.
The hosts have beaten Inter just once, while one game has been drawn.
They last met in the second round of the Coppa Italia in the 1990-91 edition, with Inter winning both legs.
Inter are unbeaten in their last 25 league meetings against newly promoted teams in Serie A, winning 22 games, while three games have ended in draws.
The visitors have the second-best attacking record in the league, scoring 35 times in 16 games.
Monza have scored 17 goals in 16 games, which is the fourth-worst attacking record in the competition.
Only first-placed Napoli (13) have won more games in the league than Inter (11).
Only 18th-placed Sampdoria (11) and last-placed Verona (12) have lost more games than the hosts (9) this term in Serie A.

Monza vs Inter Milan prediction

Monza are clear contenders to stay up at the end of their debut Serie A season under Palladino, but beating in-form Inter will be a bridge too far. Hence we go with the following pickings in this fixture: