After surviving by the skin of their teeth last season, Empoli start a new Serie A campaign on Saturday, as Monza pay a visit to Stadio Castellani.
Both sides are under new management, and having recently progressed in the Coppa Italia they now seek a swift start in the league.
Match preview
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Only a win was guaranteed to secure Empoli's Serie A status on the final matchday of 2023-24, as the Tuscan club hosted Roma in a dramatic top-flight finale.
Seemingly bound for relegation, a stoppage-time strike from M'Baye Niang saved the day, one week after the Azzurri had let safety slip through their fingers in a high-stakes game against Udinese.
Having pulled off yet another great escape, head coach Davide Nicola left for Cagliari, and only months after being sacked by Lecce following a post-match headbutt on Hellas Verona's Thomas Henry, new boss Roberto D'Aversa was appointed.
While Nicola has honed a reputation for keeping Serie A strugglers afloat, D'Aversa failed to help either Parma or Sampdoria stay up in previous posts so has plenty to prove.
Following two wins, one draw and a defeat in pre-season, his side returned to competitive action last weekend, with a first-round Coppa Italia tie against Catanzaro.
Three second-half goals saw Empoli into the next round with a 4-1 home win, and they will now turn their focus towards extending a club record three-year stay in the top flight.
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Meanwhile, Monza's new manager boasts a more glamorous profile, as former AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta was the man chosen to replace Fiorentina-bound Raffaele Palladino.
The latter's reign fizzled out somewhat, as the Biancorossi ended their second season at the top level with a winless streak of nine matches, picking up just three points along the way - that saw them miss out on a top-half finish.
Nesta has arrived in Brianza with the brief of continuing Monza's impressive start to life in Serie A, and improving on 12th place will be the aim of his ambitious employers.
After finishing their pre-season programme with a draw against relegated Sassuolo, his new side scraped through to the Coppa Italia's second round on penalties last time out, seeing off Sudtirol 9-8 on spot-kicks after a goalless home draw.
As Monza have lost both of their two Serie A openers so far - on debut against Torino in 2022 and to Inter Milan last summer - they will now try to halt that streak on Saturday.
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Mattia Viti returned to Empoli on loan this summer, after spells at Nice and Sassuolo, while Lorenzo Colombo (AC Milan) and Sebastiano Esposito (Inter Milan) have also agreed year-long stays at Stadio Castellani.
However, centre-back Sebastiano Luperto followed Davide Nicola to Cagliari, and final-day hero M'Baye Niang also departed; in the latter's absence, Colombo and Esposito were paired up front against Catanzaro - and both found the net.
While Alberto Grassi is suspended, Tyronne Ebuehi and Samuele Perisan are missing due to injury, and as Elia Caprile went back to parent club Napoli earlier this summer, Milan-owned Devis Vasquez should start in goal.
Monza are also missing a goalkeeper, as Alessio Cragno has undergone shoulder surgery and will not return until October; midfield duo Roberto Gagliardini (thigh) and Jose Machin (knee) are also unavailable.
Furthermore, Raffaele Palladino took chief creator Andrea Colpani with him to Fiorentina, and first-choice goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio has joined Juventus.
Like his counterpart Roberto D'Aversa, new Biancorossi boss Alessandro Nesta will not get close to the action on Saturday evening, as both must serve touchline suspensions.
Empoli possible starting lineup:
Vasquez; Walukiewicz, Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Maleh, Pezzella; Fazzini, Esposito; Colombo
Monza possible starting lineup:
Pizzignacco; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Birindelli, Bondo, Pessina, Kyriakopoulos; Mota, Maldini; Petagna
We say: Empoli 1-0 Monza
Following such a dramatic denouement to last season at Stadio Castellani, it might be a more low-key start to Serie A's 2024-25 campaign on Sunday.
One goal could decide the game, and as Empoli's young forwards looked sharp in the cup last week, the home side should get under way with a win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
