Fun facts for this first - ever Serie A encounter between Inter and Monza

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The game on Saturday 7 January at 20.45 CET will be the eighth meeting between Inter and Monza. The seven previous contests were all played in the Coppa Italia, with the Nerazzurri winning five times and drawing once. The last time they met was back in the 1990/91 season, when they faced each other in a two-legged affair in the second round. Interestingly, both games were played at stadio Brianteo in Monza: the first leg was won 1-0 by Inter, thanks to a Brehme penalty, while the second leg saw the Nerazzurri come out on top again, this time winning 2-1, with Battistini and Berti on the scoresheet. For Monza, a young Luigi Di Biagio got their goal.

NEW OPPONENT

Inter have won against 67 different clubs since Serie A was formed: only Roma, with 68, have a better record. With a win at the U-Power Stadium, the Nerazzurri would reach the Giallorossi at the top of this special ranking.

INTER, LAUTARO AND NEWLY-PROMOTED TEAMS

The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in 25 Serie A games against newly-promoted sides. In fact, they have won nine on the trot against sides who have been promoted from Serie B the previous season. Out of all the players, Lautaro Martinez has the most positive record against them: the Argentinian has eight goals and two assists. This season so far, Toro has already scored against Cremonese and provided a key assist in the opening game against Lecce.

EDIN ON FIRE

Against Napoli, Edin Dzeko got his tenth goal of the season, in all competitions: no other current Serie A player has done better, with the Bosnian on the same number of goals as Osimhen and Nzola. The forward has scored in his last three league games, and bagged two braces in his last four Serie A away games.

EVER-PRESENT

Considering all competitions, Milan Skriniar has played more minutes this season than any other player in the squad. The defender has been on the pitch a total of 1817 minutes in 22 appearances.

REFEREE

Juan Luca Sacchi will be the referee in charge of Monza vs. Inter, matchday 17 in 2022/23 Serie A.

Sacchi will be joined by Bottegoni and Cipressa as his Assistants, with Massimi as Fourth Official. On VAR duties will be Mazzoleni, with Di Martino as his Assistant.