Monza vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-05-02 19:00.
Monza’s comeback from 2-0 down to beat Fiorentina in their last home game saw them seal their status as the best Serie A (SA) debutants this century (44 points) with seven rounds to spare. And after following that up with a 2-0 win at Spezia, the Biancorossi remain on course to become only the eighth promoted side to hit 50 points in a 38-game season when awarding three points for a win.
If Raffaele Palladino’s men can have any complaints before kick-off, their recent lack of consistency at the Brianteo Stadium might be one. Each of their five latest home matches have produced a result different to the one before it (W2, D1, L2), and with both losses seeing them blank against other current top-six teams, they still have a lot to prove.
Monza can also expect a backlash from a frustrated Roma side still battling for Europa League glory. After a 1-1 draw against AC Milan on Saturday, La Lupa thought they had won it with a 94th-minute strike against the Rossoneri, only to drop points almost immediately after netting, keeping them looking over their shoulder at those still aiming to catch up with the top-six.
While expected to rally, Roma have been poor travellers lately, winning in just one of their previous nine competitive away battles (D2, L6). Amongst those are two failures to beat promoted opposition – including a 2-1 loss to bottom-three Cremonese – meaning that Roma could go a whole SA season winless away to such teams for the first time since 1998/99.
Players to watch: Matteo Pessina struck late to complete Monza’s comeback in their last outing at the Brianteo Stadium, meaning that he’s netted the final goal via a penalty in two of the Biancorossi’s previous four home games won or drawn. As for Roma, Paulo Dybala remains their most recent away-day matchwinner, and curiously, his last nine goals on hostile turf have either acted as match openers or equalisers for 1-1.
Hot stat: Roma have won five (D1) of the prior SA road trips in which they’ve netted first this season.