Opposition analysis: Monza

The countdown is almost over: the Serie A 2026/27 season is ready to get underway, and Inter's opening fixture will be at San Siro against Monza. The Nerazzurri and Brianzoli also met on the opening day of the 2023/24 campaign, when a Lautaro Martínez brace secured a 2-0 victory for Simone Inzaghi's side. Once again, the reigning Italian champions will lift the curtain on a new Serie A season against Monza, who have returned to the top flight after winning the Serie B play-offs last season. Monza arrive at the Meazza with a new face in the dugout, as Ivan Jurić was appointed during the summer to lead the Biancorossi's return to Serie A.

NEW ARRIVALS

There have also been significant changes to the squad, with the departures of players such as Paulo Azzi, Hernani and Pedro Obiang. The core group that drove Monza's promotion, made up of Matteo Pessina, Samuele Birindelli, Dany Mota, Andrea Colpani and Patrick Cutrone has been strengthened with a number of promising young signings. Among the arrivals are Foe Ondoa, the 2005-born attacking midfielder from Estoril Praia; Gustavo Varela, the 2005-born striker from Benfica; Eddy Kouadio, the 2006-born defender who joins on loan from Fiorentina; and former Inter midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro.

FORMATION AND STYLE OF PLAY

Jurić has inherited a squad already accustomed to his preferred system, built around three centre-backs and a four-man midfield, before tailoring the attacking setup to suit the characteristics of the players at his disposal. The Croatian coach's 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2, the formations that brought him his greatest success at Hellas Verona and Torino, are based on an intense playing style, with aggressive pressing out of possession and a focus on using width and pace in attack.

After a pre-season that produced three wins from five matches, including a prestigious victory over Galatasaray, Monza offered an early glimpse of Jurić's football in the Coppa Italia Round of 32 against Avellino. The 3-4-3 he deployed proved particularly fluid going forward, with Patrick Cutrone dropping deep to link play while Gustavo Varela attacked the penalty area. The Portuguese forward took full advantage of the space created through the middle, scoring twice. His first goal came after a high turnover created by Monza's pressing in the attacking third, the second from a direct vertical move combining the two forwards, while Forson added the third after being played through by another incisive Cutrone pass.

MONZA'S PRE-SEASON

FRIENDLIES

• Monza 4-3 Pro Vercelli (Own-goal, Colpani, Forson, Petagna)

• Monza 2-0 Galatasaray (Carboni, Cutrone)

• Monza 1-3 Aris Salonicco (Colpani)

• Monza 4-2 Milan Futuro (Varela, Akinsanmiro, Forson, Akinsanmiro)

• Monza 3-3 Padova (Pessina, Mota, Cutrone)

COPPA ITALIA

Round of 64: Monza 3-0 Avellino (Varela, Varela, Forson)

KEY PLAYERS

Alongside a clearly defined tactical identity and a solid foundation, Monza can still rely on leaders such as Patrick Cutrone, although they will be without captain Matteo Pessina, who is sidelined through injury. From a tactical perspective, Jurić also has another option up his sleeve. As an alternative to playing with two forwards, he can deploy a lone striker supported by two attacking midfielders such as Colpani and Mota, both of whom are capable of operating in tight spaces and providing quality in the final third. Much of Monza's attacking play is built through the wide areas. On the right, Birindelli can operate both as a wing-back and as the right-sided centre-back in a back three, while on the left, the arrival of Ricardo Mangas from Sporting CP offers a more attack-minded profile. In midfield, Akinsanmiro, Foe Ondoa and Mout are expected to form the core of the engine room while Pessina recovers, while at the back Kouadio joins a defensive unit that already includes Delli Carri and Carboni.

Monza also have players capable of making an impact from the bench, including Adam Bakoune, the 2006-born wide player whose imposing physique and powerful running make him another valuable option as the game unfolds.

Monza come into the opening fixture of the season as a refreshed side, but one with a clearly defined tactical identity and a variety of options at Jurić's disposal. At San Siro, Inter will come up against a team ready to compete with intensity and aggression as it looks to make the best possible start to its return to Serie A.