Monza
UdineseBy Tunde Ogundipe — Football expert covering Premier League, MLS, J1 League, and more
The second round of Serie A brings a statistical curiosity to the forefront: Monza and Udinese have met seven times in their history, and on every occasion the home team has failed to claim victory. This trend will be put to the test at the U-Power Stadium, where both sides arrive with contrasting momentum after the opening weekend.
Monza made headlines by appointing Ivan Juric as head coach, handing him one of the highest salaries in the Italian top flight. However, the squad he inherited is modest at best and poorly suited to his trademark approach—built on athleticism, intensity, and man‑to‑man pressing. The result was a predictable thrashing at the hands of the reigning champions in the first round. For one half at San Siro, Monza held their own and went into the break level at 1‑1, but once Inter stepped up the tempo, the floodgates opened and three more goals followed in a 4‑1 defeat.
Changes are inevitable after that trip to Milan, and the most pressing issue is between the posts. Samuele Pizzignacco failed to seize his opportunity, so the first‑choice goalkeeper Demba Thiam—suspended for the opener—will reclaim his place. Another logical adjustment involves Patrick Cutrone. The centre‑forward role is currently occupied by Gustavo Varela, who scored against Inter, but Cutrone’s experience could be valuable as a left inside forward. That shift would allow former Spartak Moscow man Ricardo Mangas to return to his natural left wing‑back position.
Udinese faced a tricky opponent in Como, a club that had just qualified for the Champions League. Yet Kosta Runjaic’s men handled the challenge admirably, earning a deserved 1‑1 draw. The Bianconeri deliberately ceded possession to their more technically gifted rivals but regularly broke forward on rapid flank counters, one of which produced Hassane Kamara’s equaliser. Against sides with inferior individual quality, Udinese typically adopt a more aggressive game plan, employing full‑field physical pressing. That is exactly what they are expected to bring to the match at Monza.
Last season’s top scorer Keinan Davis missed the first round through injury but has returned to full fitness and is ready to lead the line. Nicolò Zaniolo, however, picked up a knock late in the Como game and will be sidelined until October. His absence opens the door for one of Udinese’s most intriguing summer signings, Unai Gomez, to take the right inside‑forward role.
Monza (3‑4‑2‑1): Thiam – Cuadio, Delli Carri, Carboni – Birindelli, Ondoa, Mout, Mangas – Colpani, Cutrone – Varela Out: Pessina (injury) Head coach: Ivan Juric
Udinese (3‑4‑2‑1): Okoye – Abankwa, Sole, Ebosse – Vojvoda, Piotrowski, Karlstrom, Kamara – Gomez, Ekkelenkamp – Davis Out: Chakvetadze, Zanoli, Zaniolo, Palma (all injured), Kabasele (suspended) Head coach: Kosta Runjaic
Claudio Giuseppe Allegretta will officiate his first ever Serie A match. In the previous season, his average yellow‑card count per game stood at 4.18, while red cards were a rarity—he produced just one in his last 30 fixtures.
Runjaic has a proven track record of preparing his team for the start of a campaign. In his two previous seasons at the helm, Udinese never lost any of their opening three matches. This year, the visitors appear intent on maintaining that habit. Monza arguably possess the weakest squad in Serie A and look a far more manageable opponent than Como, who are chasing the upper echelons of Italian football. Moreover, the hosts’ physical condition looked suspect in round one, raising doubts about their ability to withstand Udinese’s trademark aggressive pressing.
Main prediction: Udinese to win at odds of 2.44.
Additional bet on total goals: If the match unfolds as expected with Udinese dictating terms, a high‑scoring affair seems unlikely. The Friulani ended last season with four consecutive under‑2.5‑goal games, and neither of their two official fixtures this term has seen more than two goals. Therefore, under 2.5 goals at 1.65 is a sensible secondary option.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
Monza3-4-2-1
Udinese3-4-2-1Monza host Udinese in Serie A, and I see the visitors with a handicap (0) as the smarter play over a straight win. Udinese have never lost at Monza in league history – two wins and three draws – while Monza are winless in eight home matches. The form gap is clear: Udinese opened with a 1-1 draw at Como, whereas Monza were crushed 4-1 by Inter and are missing key men like Pessina and Ciurria.
Analysts lean toward a draw or a narrow Udinese victory, putting their win chance at 30–43%. That’s why I’m taking the handicap (0) – it covers both a win and a draw, making it far more reliable than gambling on an outright away win.
A Serie A clash between Monza and Udinese is built for a card-heavy affair — both sides are scrappy and physical, so I'm not looking anywhere else. Over 3.5 yellows at 1.78 is the clear call here.
Monza head into this Serie A fixture as the clear underdog, and that status usually translates into extra fouls and bookings. I’m backing over 2.5 yellow cards for the home side.
Monza and Udinese in Serie A — both teams capable of scoring, so this match has the look of a high‑event affair. I’m backing over 2.5 goals at 2.26.
Monza’s home record is far more consistent, and they’ve been finding the net with regularity on their own turf. Udinese won’t park the bus, but they don’t exactly lock things down away from home either. I’m backing the hosts to score at least once—it’s happened in their last several home outings, and the price at 1.40 feels like a solid safety net, not a lottery ticket. Simple, reliable, and gets the job done.
Monza’s disciplinary record is the angle I’m playing here. They’ve been picking up cards at a steady clip, and against Udinese, I see that trend continuing. The price at 3.00 is too generous to pass up for a bet that feels well within reach.
I’m backing Monza to collect over 2.5 yellow cards. The reasoning is straightforward: this is a side that gets stuck in, and the matchup should give them plenty of opportunities to rack up bookings. No need to overthink it—I like this one.
Udinese will win this match, and they’ll do it by scoring at least two goals. That’s the play: Udinese over 1.5 goals at 2.61. Simple and direct.
Monza and Udinese meet in Serie A, and I’m backing both teams to find the net. The hosts have shown they can create chances at home, while Udinese are no slouches in attack either. With both sides likely to push for goals, a scoreline where each team scores feels like the smart play here.
The odds at 1.89 offer solid value for this bet. Neither defense looks rock-solid, and the attacking talent on display should ensure we see goals at both ends. Simple as that.
Monza against Udinese in Serie A — I’m backing the visitors to take all three points at 2.50. Udinese have the quality and form to get the job done here, and the price is too good to pass up. No reason to overthink this one.
Monza host Udinese on August 29 at 19:30. I'm backing the visitors to take the win — there's really no other choice.
Monza’s first home game since returning to Serie A should see them push forward from the start. I’m backing them to earn more than five corners against Udinese — a solid line with a bit of safety at 2.46.
Monza’s home struggles are impossible to ignore — they haven’t won in five straight matches at their own ground. I don’t see that changing in the sixth, especially against an Udinese side that can at least avoid defeat. That’s why the handicap 0 (draw no bet) on the visitors looks like the right call here, and at 1.72 the value is solid.
Monza are heading for a defeat here. Udinese will take all three points — a result I'm fully confident in at the current price of 2.46.
The corner totals in Monza–Udinese matchups consistently land in the 9.4–9.8 range, while the market is set lower at roughly 8.5–9.0. That gap makes the over 8.5 line the clear value play here.
Monza vs Udinese in Serie A — I'm backing the visitors to take all three points. Udinese have the edge here, and I also expect the game to feature at least three goals, so the over 2.5 total is firmly in play.
The corner count for this Serie A match between Monza and Udinese should comfortably surpass the 9.5 mark at a 2.25 price point. There's a strong expectation for a high volume of corners given the matchup dynamics, and I'm backing the over here without hesitation.
Monza are still finding their feet after promotion, and Udinese look well-placed to take advantage. I’m backing the visitors to come away with at least a point here.
Monza against Udinese in Serie A — I’m backing the visitors to take all three points at 2.50. Udinese have the quality and form to get the job done here, and the price is too good to pass up. No reason to overthink this one.
Monza host Udinese on August 29 at 19:30. I'm backing the visitors to take the win — there's really no other choice.
Monza are heading for a defeat here. Udinese will take all three points — a result I'm fully confident in at the current price of 2.46.
Monza vs Udinese in Serie A — I'm backing the visitors to take all three points. Udinese have the edge here, and I also expect the game to feature at least three goals, so the over 2.5 total is firmly in play.
Monza and Udinese in Serie A — both teams capable of scoring, so this match has the look of a high‑event affair. I’m backing over 2.5 goals at 2.26.
Monza’s home record is far more consistent, and they’ve been finding the net with regularity on their own turf. Udinese won’t park the bus, but they don’t exactly lock things down away from home either. I’m backing the hosts to score at least once—it’s happened in their last several home outings, and the price at 1.40 feels like a solid safety net, not a lottery ticket. Simple, reliable, and gets the job done.
Udinese will win this match, and they’ll do it by scoring at least two goals. That’s the play: Udinese over 1.5 goals at 2.61. Simple and direct.
Monza’s first home game since returning to Serie A should see them push forward from the start. I’m backing them to earn more than five corners against Udinese — a solid line with a bit of safety at 2.46.
The corner totals in Monza–Udinese matchups consistently land in the 9.4–9.8 range, while the market is set lower at roughly 8.5–9.0. That gap makes the over 8.5 line the clear value play here.
The corner count for this Serie A match between Monza and Udinese should comfortably surpass the 9.5 mark at a 2.25 price point. There's a strong expectation for a high volume of corners given the matchup dynamics, and I'm backing the over here without hesitation.
Monza host Udinese in Serie A, and I see the visitors with a handicap (0) as the smarter play over a straight win. Udinese have never lost at Monza in league history – two wins and three draws – while Monza are winless in eight home matches. The form gap is clear: Udinese opened with a 1-1 draw at Como, whereas Monza were crushed 4-1 by Inter and are missing key men like Pessina and Ciurria.
Analysts lean toward a draw or a narrow Udinese victory, putting their win chance at 30–43%. That’s why I’m taking the handicap (0) – it covers both a win and a draw, making it far more reliable than gambling on an outright away win.
Monza’s home struggles are impossible to ignore — they haven’t won in five straight matches at their own ground. I don’t see that changing in the sixth, especially against an Udinese side that can at least avoid defeat. That’s why the handicap 0 (draw no bet) on the visitors looks like the right call here, and at 1.72 the value is solid.
Monza are still finding their feet after promotion, and Udinese look well-placed to take advantage. I’m backing the visitors to come away with at least a point here.
Monza and Udinese meet in Serie A, and I’m backing both teams to find the net. The hosts have shown they can create chances at home, while Udinese are no slouches in attack either. With both sides likely to push for goals, a scoreline where each team scores feels like the smart play here.
The odds at 1.89 offer solid value for this bet. Neither defense looks rock-solid, and the attacking talent on display should ensure we see goals at both ends. Simple as that.
A Serie A clash between Monza and Udinese is built for a card-heavy affair — both sides are scrappy and physical, so I'm not looking anywhere else. Over 3.5 yellows at 1.78 is the clear call here.
Monza head into this Serie A fixture as the clear underdog, and that status usually translates into extra fouls and bookings. I’m backing over 2.5 yellow cards for the home side.
Monza’s disciplinary record is the angle I’m playing here. They’ve been picking up cards at a steady clip, and against Udinese, I see that trend continuing. The price at 3.00 is too generous to pass up for a bet that feels well within reach.
I’m backing Monza to collect over 2.5 yellow cards. The reasoning is straightforward: this is a side that gets stuck in, and the matchup should give them plenty of opportunities to rack up bookings. No need to overthink it—I like this one.
The match is scheduled for 29 August 2026 at 17:30, at the U-Power Stadium in Monza.
The main prediction is Udinese to win at odds of 2.44.
Udinese started the season confidently with a 1-1 draw against Como, and coach Kosta Runjaic has a record of not losing any of his first three matches in previous campaigns. Monza, after a 4-1 loss to Inter, have the weakest squad in Serie A and fitness doubts.
Monza have Pessina out injured. Udinese have Chakvetadze, Zanoli, Zaniolo, and Palma injured, and Kabasele suspended. Goalkeeper Demba Thiam returns from suspension for Monza.
The additional bet is under 2.5 goals at 1.65. Udinese ended last season with four consecutive under-2.5-goal games, and neither of their two official matches this season has seen more than two goals.