Today, Tuesday 3 December, at 6.30 pm, Dall’Ara is preparing to welcome the challenge between Bologna And Monzavalid for the round of 16 of the 2024-25 Italian Cup. A dry match that promises sparks, with the winner ready to face whoever prevails between Atalanta and Cesena in the quarterfinals. The precedents between the two teams, considering all competitions, see a slight advantage for Bologna with 7 wins against 4 for Monza, and 7 draws. In the first leg of the championship, the rossoblù won 2-1 at the U-Power Stadium thanks to goals from Urbanski and Castro, while Djuric scored for Monza. The referee designated for the Italian Cup match is Ferrieri Caputi.
HOW BOLOGNA ARRIVES – The rossoblù, led by Vincenzo Italiano, come to the match refreshed by the recent 3-0 defeat against Venezia in the championship, a success which interrupted the mini-series of two consecutive defeats against Lazio and Lille, between the championship and the Champions League. The Emilian team, fresh from qualifying for the quarter-finals in the last edition of the Italian Cup (2-1 against Inter), wants to continue its journey in the tournament, breaking the sequence of premature eliminations which saw it exit in the round of 16 in 11 of the 12 previous participations. Furthermore, Bologna boasts a solid defensive tradition in the Italian Cup, having conceded just two goals in the last seven matches, after conceding 13 in the previous four. For the match against Monza, Italiano should deploy a 4-2-3-1 with Ravaglia between the posts, Holm, Erlic, Casale and Lykogiannis composing the defensive line, Orsolini, Fabbian and Urbanski, likely in the attacking midfield, with Dallinga alone tip.
HOW THE MONZA ARRIVES – The Brianza team, coached by Alessandro Nesta, arrives at the Dall’Ara match after the 1-1 draw against Como in the championship. A result that extends the lack of victories for the red and whites, without success for over a month and a half (the last one on 21 October against Verona). Monza has overcome two rounds in this edition of the Italian Cup, first eliminating Sudtirol on penalties and then Brescia with a clear 3-1. However, the team’s recent history in the round of 16 is not the most rosy, with two eliminations from three participations (1958/59 and 2022/23). The only qualification dates back to the 1938/39 season. Nesta should opt for a 3-4-2-1 with Pizzignacco in goal, D’Ambrosio, Pablo Marì and Caldirola in defence, Birindelli, Bondo, Bianco and Ciurria in midfield, and the Caprari-Vignato-Petagna trident in attack.