Serie A Matchday 6 brings Lazio and Monza together on 11 October 2026 and the gap between these two sides is already stark. Lazio are third with 13 points and a +5 goal difference from five games, unbeaten under Gennaro Gattuso, whereas Monza sit 16th on four points with a -4 goal difference, a return that reflects how much the step up in quality from promotion has hurt them. A Lazio win cements their top four push, for Monza, another defeat would be damaging in a campaign that hasn't clicked yet.
Gattuso took charge at Lazio on 23 June 2026, replacing Maurizio Sarri, while Juric was appointed by Monza around 1 July 2026 to succeed Paolo Bianco. The two managers haven't faced each other enough for their record to tell us much.
Lazio have been excellent recently, winning four of their last five with one draw, including a 2-0 over Venezia on 19 September, a 2-2 with Milan and a 2-1 against Udinese. Monza's run is poor: three defeats in five with their only victory a 2-1 against Sassuolo, leaving them five points above the relegation zone.
Both sides report no significant absences, meaning Gattuso and Juric can each name the side they actually want. No injury concerns means Lazio can maintain their pressing shape across 90 minutes without forced changes and Monza can field the aggressive setup Juric prefers.
Gattuso has installed a 4-3-3 at Lazio built around compact defensive lines, quick ball recovery and transition through midfield. Davide Frattesi has been the standout performer, arriving late into the box and linking play in the final third, while Mattia Zaccagni gives Lazio their most direct threat from wide and will be central to breaking down Monza's 3-4-2-1, both of them the players Juric most needs to contain.
Monza play a high intensity pressing game under Juric with striker Gustavo Varela as the main outlet for rapid transitions. Varela's finishing makes him dangerous in space but the system leaves gaps behind the wing backs when the press is bypassed and Lazio's patient ball circulation before springing forward should expose that, particularly if Frattesi can find pockets between Monza's midfield and defence. The key individual battles are Frattesi against Monza's central midfield screen and Zaccagni's attempts to isolate wing backs on the flanks.
Lazio have historically dominated this fixture, though that record carries limited weight given how different the two clubs' trajectories have been since Monza's promotion. Lazio's organised delivery from set pieces has created overloads in the box this season and Monza's high defensive line leaves them exposed to deliveries aimed at the back post. Monza need to stop conceding in transitions and create more than the one goal per game their recent run suggests if they are going to take anything from this.
Lazio to win 2-0, with their ball circulation bypassing Monza's press and Frattesi finding space between the lines as Monza's shape opens up. The clean sheet looks realistic given how few chances Monza have created on the road and Varela, with Lazio's patient build up neutralising the press before it can gain momentum, is unlikely to receive the service he needs to threaten.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
