Having kicked off 2023 with a crucial win in midweek, Inter Milan attempt to climb the Serie A standings again on Saturday, as they take the short trip to Monza.
Inter returned to action by handing out a first defeat of the season to leaders Napoli, while their Lombardy neighbours took a point home from Florence to edge further clear of the drop zone.
Match preview
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Deciding a tense contest at San Siro on Wednesday, Edin Dzeko's close-range header from an inviting Federico Dimarco cross helped Inter to victory against Napoli, who sat 11 points clear of their Nerazzurri rivals before kickoff.
The veteran striker's 56th-minute strike capped an impressive performance from Simone Inzaghi's side; keeping their hopes of a Scudetto challenge alive approaching the second half of the season.
They now occupy fourth place in the table - just two points behind second-placed Milan - and ahead of their visit to Stadio Brianteo this weekend, are unbeaten in their last 25 league matches against promoted sides; winning 22 times in the process.
After an inconsistent start to the season, during which Inzaghi's contribution came under significant scrutiny, Inter have not only secured a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League but also crept up the domestic standings: no side has gained more points in Serie A (21, level with Napoli and Juventus) or scored more goals (also 21) over the past eight matchdays.
However, they have conceded at least once in each of their last 12 away games - the club's worst such run since the late 80s - and defensive deficiencies on the road were at the root of their autumn troubles; four losses and 18 goals conceded before the World Cup break attest to that.
Set to host second-tier Parma in the Coppa Italia and then Verona over the next week, Inter will now want to build on their toppling of Napoli and address their woes when away from San Siro, before travelling to Saudi Arabia to contest the Supercoppa Italiana with Milan.
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Monza tick off another landmark date in the calendar by hosting their Lombardy counterparts on Saturday, as their first-ever top-flight campaign continues into the new year.
Following a slow start to life at the elite level after they were promoted as Serie B playoff winners, the Biancorossi's form has improved as the season has progressed - particularly since owners Adriano Galliani and Silvio Berlusconi decided to replace coach Giovanni Stroppa with a relative novice.
New boss Raffaele Palladino dragged the newcomers nine points clear of the relegation zone before Qatar 2022 took place, and they eked out a point against Fiorentina in midweek to sit 15th after 16 games. Brazilian wing-back Carlos Augusto equalised in the second half by turning home Patrick Ciurria's cross unopposed; setting Monza up for one of their toughest tests yet.
Finishing off with two home wins from their last three fixtures prior to the break - 2-0 versus Verona and 3-0 against Salernitana - means they could win three consecutive home games for the first time in Serie A.
Though a formidable obstacle stands in their way, the rookies took down Juventus on home soil in Palladino's first game, so will believe that history can be written again this weekend.
Team News
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As Lautaro Martinez recently returned to training after Argentina's World Cup triumph and made a cameo from the bench against Napoli, Simone Inzaghi can now choose between 'El Toro' and midweek matchwinner Edin Dzeko to partner fit-again Romelu Lukaku up front.
Dzeko has scored two braces in his last four Serie A away games, while Lukaku has been directly involved in nine goals from seven matches played against promoted opponents during his time in Italy (seven goals; two assists).
Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic remains sidelined by a calf strain which could keep him out of action until Inter's Supercoppa Italiana clash with Milan later this month, but Inzaghi has no other major injury concerns.
Another Nerazzurri midfielder, Stefano Sensi - who is on loan at Monza this season - is ruled out of meeting his parent club due to an ankle injury, while Nicolo Rovella could also be missing from the hosts' engine room on Saturday.
Spanish defender Pablo Mari was back on the bench in Florence, for the first time since he was stabbed in a random attack two months ago, and the Arsenal loanee may now start in Raffaele Palladino's back three.
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Marlon, Mari, Izzo; Ciurria, Pessina, Ranocchia, Augusto; Colpani, Caprari; Petagna
Inter Milan possible starting lineup:
Onana; Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Dzeko, Lukaku
We say: Monza 1-2 Inter Milan
Under Palladino, it is clear that Monza are credible contenders to stay up at the end of their debut Serie A season, but beating in-form Inter will prove a bridge too far. The visitors' defeat of Napoli has only boosted confidence in the camp, and they can breach even a much-improved Biancorossi defence more than once.
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