Monza - Udinese: the returnee to the elite welcomes the stable team from Udine
Monza and Udinese meet in the second round of Serie A 2026/27 at Stadio Brianteo in Monza. Kick-off is scheduled for 29 August at 18:30, and for the home side this will be their first league match at their own stadium after returning to the top flight.
The starting positions of the two teams are quite different. Monza returned to Serie A only a year after being relegated. In the regular part of Serie B 2025/26, they finished third with 76 points and then secured promotion through the play-offs. In the final against Catanzaro, a 2-0 victory in the first leg proved crucial, while after the return leg their return to Serie A was confirmed thanks to their better position in the regular season.
Udinese come into this with a more stable top-flight season behind them. Kosta Runjaic's team finished Serie A 2025/26 in tenth place. The final round brought a 1-0 defeat away to Napoli, which ended Udinese's unbeaten run of approximately three months.
Before their head-to-head meeting, both teams still have to play the opening league round. Monza visit Inter on 22 August, while Udinese host Como on the same day. Therefore, at the time this guide is being prepared, there is still little point in comparing their positions in the Serie A 2026/27 table - the first points have yet to be awarded.
For Monza, however, the home start to the season is particularly important. Their return to Serie A was secured in front of packed stands in the closing stages of the play-offs, and now comes the first league test in front of their own supporters. It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Monza arrive with Ivan Juric's clear signature
Promotion was secured by the team led by Paolo Bianco, but Ivan Juric took over on the bench during the summer. Monza confirmed his arrival at the end of June, and the new coach immediately began building his recognisably aggressive style based on intense pressing, duels and attempts to win the ball back quickly.
The first competitive indication was highly convincing. On 14 August, Monza beat Avellino 3-0 in the Cup at Brianteo. Gustavo Varela scored twice on his competitive debut for the club, Omari Forson added the third, while Patrick Cutrone contributed two assists.
Even more interesting was the way Monza created chances. For Varela's first goal, Foe Ondoa won the ball, while for the second Cutrone pressed the defence and regained possession before providing the assist. The moves were regularly spread towards the flanks, particularly through Ricardo Mangas, while Cutrone, Varela and Forson combined between and behind the last line.
That raises several clear tactical questions ahead of Udinese's arrival:
- can Monza's high press force Udinese into mistakes in the first phase of build-up play
- how much space will Mangas and Samuele Birindelli receive along the touchlines
- will Varela confirm the efficiency he showed with two goals against Avellino
- can Cutrone once again be more important as a link player and creator than merely as a finishing striker
- how will Juric's defence control Keinan Davis's physical strength and the runs of players arriving from deeper positions
Monza's squad includes several players who already know Serie A well. Alongside Cutrone there are Matteo Pessina, Andrea Colpani, Dany Mota, Patrick Ciurria, Andrea Petagna and Omari Forson. Varela is a new name who immediately attracted attention, while Colpani, after coming on against Avellino, reached finishing positions several times and once again gives Monza a dangerous left foot between the lines.
Throughout his career, Juric has often built teams that want to play man-to-man, keep the opponent under pressure and attack with plenty of energy. Against Udinese, such an approach also carries risk. If the visitors get through the first wave of pressure, the space behind Monza's wide players could become an important area of the match.
Udinese already have a recognisable structure
Kosta Runjaic enters the new season with continuity on the bench and a team that finished the previous campaign in the top half of the table. Their first competitive appearance of the summer also ended in victory: on 15 August, Udinese beat Padova 1-0 in the Cup thanks to Keinan Davis's goal in the 35th minute.
Runjaic started that match in a 3-4-2-1 system. Maduka Okoye was in goal, James Abankwah, Matteo Palma and Oumar Solet formed the back three, Mërgim Vojvoda and Hassane Kamara played on the flanks, while Jesper Karlström and Jakub Piotrowski operated in midfield. Nicolò Zaniolo and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp played behind Davis.
That structure is particularly interesting when compared with Monza's aggressive approach. Udinese have a physically strong central striker in Davis, players who can receive the ball between the lines and wide players who benefit from space to run into. If Monza push a large number of players towards the opposition half, Udinese's first successful escape from the press could completely change the balance of power in the move.
Against Padova, Davis showed exactly what he brings to this team. He received the ball inside the penalty area after Oumar Solet continued the move, turned and finished with a shot into the opposite corner. After the match, Runjaic openly described him as a key player in attack.
Zaniolo is a different type of threat. He can start from the space behind the striker, look for his left foot and attack the defence with a dribble or a shot. Ekkelenkamp provides off-the-ball running and late arrivals from deeper positions, while Karlström brings balance in midfield.
Udinese also had two interesting international tests during pre-season. At the tournament in Udine, they beat Nottingham Forest and Barcelona 1-0, with goals from Solet and Vakoun Bayo. Friendly matches are not the same as league competition, but such results give Runjaic additional material ahead of the new season.
What is known about the fitness situation
A week before the match, it is still not possible to compile a reliable final list of absentees for Monza - Udinese. The transfer window is also still open, so the squads could change before the match.
For Udinese, there is some concrete information from the match against Padova. After that victory, Runjaic said that Christian Kabasele would not be available for the next match against Como. At the same time, he explained that Ekkelenkamp had been carefully managed during pre-season after an injury, while Okoye played his first match after his lay-off against Padova and immediately kept a clean sheet.
That does not automatically mean that any of them will have the same status on 29 August. The final information for the match in Monza should be linked to the final training sessions and player selection immediately before the game.
For the home side, there is currently not enough confirmed medical information to justify naming any specific player as a certain absentee against Udinese. Therefore, it makes no sense to fill the injury list with assumptions.
Head-to-head meetings point towards a very tight contest
Monza and Udinese do not have a long shared history in Serie A, but their more recent meetings have rarely been one-sided. The last five league matches produced two 2-1 victories and three very tight results.
- 11.05.2025. - Udinese 1-2 Monza
- 09.12.2024. - Monza 1-2 Udinese
- 03.02.2024. - Udinese 0-0 Monza
- 29.10.2023. - Monza 1-1 Udinese
- 08.04.2023. - Udinese 2-2 Monza
The most recent match is particularly interesting. In May 2025, Monza won 2-1 in Udine. Gianluca Caprari put the visitors ahead, Lorenzo Lucca equalised in the 75th minute, and Keita Baldé scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.
In the first half of the same season, Udinese won by an identical 2-1 scoreline on Monza's ground. Lorenzo Lucca scored as early as the sixth minute, Georgios Kyriakopoulos equalised shortly after the break, while Jaka Bijol gave the visitors victory in the 70th minute.
The squads have changed significantly since then, so those results are not a formula for predicting the new meeting. They are more useful as a warning that these two clubs have often been difficult to separate in their Serie A encounters so far.
Where the match could be decided
The first important area will be midfield. Monza will want to aggressively press the player on the ball and close passing lanes towards Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp. Udinese will try to draw that pressure and find a free player behind the first line.
The second detail is the flanks. Mangas frequently pushed high against Avellino and created overloads, while Udinese, in a system with three centre-backs, can respond with wide players such as Vojvoda and Kamara. The question will not only be who attacks more often, but who better defends the space left behind their forward runs.
The third point is Davis. Monza's defenders will have to decide how aggressively to step out towards him when he receives the ball with his back to goal. If they attack him with too many players, corridors open up for Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp. If they allow him to control the ball, Udinese can move the entire team forward.
At the other end, Varela brings an element of uncertainty. Two goals on his debut against Avellino are not enough for major conclusions about the season, but the way he arrived in finishing positions shows that Udinese will have to track his movement even when Cutrone is the player drifting away from goal.
Stadio Brianteo once again carries its historic name
The stadium at Via Franco Tognini 4 has once again carried its historic name, Stadio Brianteo, since 1 July 2026. In recent years, the venue was known under the commercial name U-Power Stadium.
Brianteo has a capacity of 17,102. The main stand has more than 4,500 seats, opposite it is the renovated east stand, Curva Sud traditionally belongs to Monza supporters, while the northern section is intended for away fans.
Immediately before the club's return to Serie A, the stadium provided further confirmation of how important a factor it can be. The second leg of the play-off final against Catanzaro attracted 17,015 spectators, at the time a record attendance for a Monza match.
For a team returning to the league, that gives the match against Udinese additional significance. This is not merely the second round, but the first league appearance at Brianteo after promotion. The stands will therefore be an important part of the entire occasion. If you are planning to attend the match, it is wise to secure tickets before matchday.
Getting there, parking and entrances
The stadium is located on the eastern side of Monza, near the Viale Stucchi and Viale Sicilia area. Visitors arriving by car from the main roads around Milan and Monza approach the stadium through the Monza - S. Alessandro area and Viale delle Industrie, before continuing towards Viale Stucchi.
For those arriving by public transport, the city bus network is useful. Line Z206 connects the Stadio Brianteo area with central Monza and the Ospedale San Gerardo area. On matchdays, transport services and traffic around the stadium may be subject to temporary changes, so it is advisable to check the current arrangements before setting off.
- The stadium address is Via Franco Tognini 4, Monza.
- The capacity is 17,102 spectators.
- Curva Sud is intended for home supporters, while the away section is located on the northern side.
- Parking areas around the stadium are divided into different zones for home and away supporters.
- Entrances generally open around two hours before kick-off, unless different arrangements are specified for an individual match.
The club uses a sector-based entry system, so spectators should approach the entrance corresponding to their sector. A separate entrance is designated for the away stand, while the home stands are distributed across other control points.
Arriving early also makes sense because of traffic. During previous matches, the city introduced temporary driving and parking restrictions in the immediate stadium area, including sections around Viale Sicilia, Viale Stucchi and Via Tognini. The exact arrangements for Monza - Udinese depend on the decisions made for that day and should not be assumed in advance.
Monza as a short destination for travelling supporters
Monza is located in Lombardy, northeast of Milan, and is well connected by rail and the wider Milan area's road network. The main railway station is not immediately next to Brianteo, so for the final part of the journey towards the stadium, visitors should allow for city transport, a taxi or additional time for a combined journey.
For a supporter travelling only for the match, the most important thing is to distinguish between the city centre and the stadium area. Brianteo is not in the historic centre but on the eastern edge of the urban area, which means planning the return journey after the match can be just as important as planning the arrival.
The 18:30 kick-off allows spectators to enter the stadium during the afternoon. Since the gates usually open approximately two hours before kick-off, arriving in the stadium area well before the referee's first whistle reduces the risk of congestion at security checks and on access roads.
What to expect in the stands
Monza return to Serie A with very recent experience of major matches in front of their own supporters. The conclusion of the play-offs in May showed that Brianteo can be almost completely full when the stakes are high. The first home league appearance after promotion logically continues that story.
Udinese, on the other hand, arrive as a club with continuous top-flight experience and a team that stabilised in mid-table last season. The away section is located separately on the northern side, while the core of the home support is in Curva Sud.
On the pitch, it is therefore worth expecting a meeting between two different initial ambitions: Monza want to immediately show that their return to Serie A is not a brief excursion, while Udinese want to confirm their continuity after finishing tenth and move towards another safe season without a relegation battle.
For the spectator, the most interesting element is the combination of Juric's aggressive approach and Runjaic's organised team with three centre-backs. If Monza manage to impose their pressing and transfer the energy of the stands onto the pitch, Udinese will be forced to play at very high intensity. If the visitors calm the initial surge and find Davis, Zaniolo or Ekkelenkamp between Monza's lines, the match could move in a completely different direction.
Anyone planning to be at Brianteo for Monza's first home top-flight appearance of the new season should not leave the decision about tickets until the last moment.
Sources:
- AC Monza - Serie A 2026/27 schedule, the club's return to Serie A, result and match report from Monza - Avellino, current squad, appointment of Ivan Juric and information about Stadio Brianteo, access, parking and entrances.
- Udinese Calcio - schedule for the opening Serie A rounds, current squad, result and line-up against Padova, Kosta Runjaic's statements about players and fitness status, and the end of the 2025/26 season.
- FBref - results of recent head-to-head matches between Monza and Udinese.
- Comune di Monza - information about the city bus network and traffic restrictions in the Stadio Brianteo area during matches.
- Nord Est Trasporti - public transport lines in the Monza area and information about possible traffic changes on matchdays.