Spezia vs Monza Predictions

• Under 2.5 goals have been scored in five of Spezia’s last six games – four of which have finished 1-1.
• Monza, meanwhile, have seen four of their last six matches contain under 2.5 goals.
• The teams’ return fixture in October also contained under 2.5 goals – Monza triumphing 2-0.

Spezia in the relegation mix

Spezia and Lecce have suddenly found themselves embroiled in a fight to preserve their Serie A status, with Verona’s revival likely signalling a three-way battle to avoid finishing in one relegation spot. Leonardo Semplici has so far inspired just one win in eight games as Spezia boss, and with just seven games of the season remaining, the Aquilotti need to find a consistent route to goal – something which has evaded them in recent weeks.

Indeed, Spezia have actually only lost two games under Semplici – against accomplished opponents in Sassuolo and Lazio – with five draws preventing them from building any momentum. Spezia have only out-scored Sampdoria and Empoli in Serie A this term – and therein lies their major issue. Semplici’s men have seen five of their last six games contain under 2.5 goals, the exception being a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Lazio, and they have only hit the net three times in their last five.

In the season’s early weeks, Monza looked likely to be scrapping it out near the dreaded dotted line after a summer of upheaval, but former Spezia player Raffaele Palladino has done a fine job to lift them above the magic 40-point mark and within touching distance of the top half. Monza are unbeaten in their last three, beating Inter Milan and Fiorentina in their last two, and though five of their last seven games have contained goals at both ends, few of those have been goal-fests – under 2.5 goals have been netted in four of their last six.

Tight affair likely as Spezia scrap away

With Spezia in desperate need of points and being content to absorb pressure (only four Serie A teams have averaged a lower possession share than their 47 per cent this term), a cagey game appears likely.

Four of Spezia’s last six games have finished 1-1, and Monza have also posted three draws in their last six. With that in mind, we’re backing a stalemate at the Stadio Alberto Picco.

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