Monza vs Torino prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-08-12 18:45.
Five years after Silvio Berlusconi sold AC Milan, the former Italian Prime Minister is back in Serie A (SA) with small Lombardy side Monza. Berlusconi took over the then third division side in 2018 and together with his long-term collaborator Adriano Galliani brought them all the way up to the top-tier for the first time in their history. Despite this being their debut campaign, Galliani has set a high target and has a top ten finish in his sights.
One of their newer acquisitions is captain Matteo Pessina who came back to his hometown club from Atalanta, and together with former Inter Milan star Stefano Sensi will form a dangerous midfield. Coach Giovanni Stroppa will hope his side can pick up from where they left off in their promotion winning campaign, securing six victories from their final seven league matches. Starting this season with a cup victory over Frosinone 3-2 last Sunday is certainly a step in the direction.
For the first time since the start of the 2015/16 season, Torino will have to do without Andrea Belotti, who was their league top-scorer in six of the last seven years, as he departed the club this summer. Manager Ivan Jurić should be confident his side can still be able to cope based on the fact they kick-started things this season with a solid 3-0 win over Palermo in the Coppa Italia last weekend.
Torino will travel to Monza aiming to improve on their recent opening-day record as they have lost at the start of the new SA season on three of the last four occasions. However, the visitors picked up 11 of last season’s 21 away league points across their last five SA trips (W3, D2) which suggests it’s an area in which they’re starting to improve.
Players to watch: Dany Mota scored 12 league goals for Monza last season, with ten arriving at home. Aiming to replace Belotti, Saša Lukić started fast with a goal and an assist against Palermo last weekend.
Hot stat: A league-low four of Torino’s away SA matches last term produced over 2.5 goals.