News & analysis

29 Matches, Eight Leagues: Sunday’s Early Table Tests

A 29-match Sunday spans eight leagues, led by the Manchester derby and featuring major tests for Barcelona, Bayern München, Flamengo and MLS leaders Vancouver Whitecaps.

34 Matches, Eight Leagues: Sunday’s Essential Football Guide

A 34-match Sunday spans eight leagues, with Arsenal v Chelsea, top-of-the-table meetings in Argentina and Brazil, and several early-season table tests.

34 matches, eight leagues: Saturday’s guide to the football

A 34-match cross-league guide highlights Sevilla v Atletico Madrid, Boca Juniors v Lanus and a packed opening Bundesliga programme.

29 Matches Shape a Packed Saturday Football Schedule

The schedule combines a leading Brazilian fixture between Cruzeiro and Flamengo with meaningful midseason meetings in Brazil, Argentina and MLS. Europe’s opening rounds add fresh table questions, from Espanyol against Real Madrid to Inter’s visit from Monza.

Monza’s 4 points after 5 rounds: goals at both ends, but no clean sheet

Form check

Monza’s first five Serie A rounds moved from two opening defeats and a position of #19 to a 2-1 home win over Sassuolo and position #16. The campaign’s defining contrast is clear: the team has scored in every match, led by Gustavo Varela, but has kept no clean sheets and conceded 12 goals.

Varela’s Two Goals Overturn Sassuolo’s Statistical Edge

Gustavo Varela scored twice as Monza beat Sassuolo 2-1, despite the visitors leading possession, passes and total shots. Vasilije Adžić scored late for Sassuolo, but Monza held on to move to 14th in Serie A.

Lecce’s Three First-Half Goals Secure 3-2 Win Over Monza

Lecce scored three times in the first half and held off Monza’s late pressure to win 3-2 at Via del Mare. Lassana Coulibaly scored twice, while Wladimiro Falcone made seven saves as Monza dominated possession and shots without taking a point.

Parma 1-1 Monza: Lontani equaliser earns a point

Parma came from behind to draw 1-1 with Monza at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. Jay Robinson put the visitors ahead before Simone Lontani equalised, despite Monza finishing with more possession and shots.

Udinese’s 3-2 win survives Monza’s second-half response

Udinese defeated Monza 3-2 after leading 3-1 at half-time, with Hassane Kamara scoring once and assisting another before Monza’s second-half response fell short.

Inter turn 72% possession into a 4-1 win over Monza

Inter beat Monza 4-1 after a 1-1 first half, scoring three times after the interval. Çalhanoğlu opened the scoring and stood out with an 8.2 rating, while Diouf supplied two assists.

"Monza Battles Atalanta in Crucial Serie A Showdown"

In a critical Serie A match on May 4, 2025, Monza faced Atalanta at the U-Power Stadium. Monza, struggling at the bottom of the table with 15 points, aimed for a win to enhance their survival chances, while Atalanta, in third place with 65 points, sought to secure Champions League qualification. Both teams employed a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Monza focusing on a compact defense and quick counterattacks, while Atalanta aimed to exploit the flanks and utilize their attacking midfielders. Monza's recent form was poor, with only one win in their last 20 matches, and a home record of 1 win, 5 draws, and 11 losses. In contrast, Atalanta had a solid away record with 11 wins, despite mixed recent results. Key players included Monza's forward, who needed to take advantage of scoring opportunities, and Atalanta's top scorer, crucial for breaking down Monza's defense. The midfield battle was expected to be significant for both teams. With Monza desperate for points and Atalanta keen to maintain their top-three position, the stakes were high. Both teams had no major injury concerns, allowing them to field their strongest lineups. Predictions favored Atalanta for a 2-0 victory, but Monza's need for points could lead to an unexpected outcome. The match promised to be an exciting encounter with significant implications for both sides.