Monza Football Formation

Starting Lineup

A. Cragno · A. Izzo (4) · P. Mari' (22) · A. Carboni (44) · P. Ciurria (84) · G. Kyriakopoulos (77) · W. Bondo (38) · M. Pessina (32) · D. Maldini (27) · G. Caprari (10) · D. Mota (47)

Monza looks to control the tempo through a high press and rapid transitions using a 3-5-2. This formation is built to win the ball back high up the pitch and move it quickly to the forwards. The team relies on a compact block to squeeze the space between the lines and force mistakes from the opposition.

A. Cragno plays between the posts to organize the defensive unit. The back three consists of A. Izzo, P. Mari', and A. Carboni, who defend zonally to maintain a cohesive line. A. Izzo acts as a dominant presence in the air, while P. Mari' and A. Carboni cover the space behind when the team pushes up. This defensive lineup can shift to a back five when defending deep to ensure the wide areas are covered.

The midfield operates with a three-man midfield with a carrier and a creative link. M. Pessina works to connect the defensive and attacking lines, often dropping deep to receive and progress through the thirds. W. Bondo helps to shield the defence and wins the second ball to keep play moving. D. Maldini plays in the hole as an attacking ten behind the strikers, looking to find the feet of the strikers or arrive late into the box. Wide players G. Kyriakopoulos and P. Ciurria provide the width, acting as wing backs to overlap the midfield and stretch the defence.

In the final third, Monza uses two forwards in a partnership. G. Caprari and D. Mota work in combinations to break the line, often using quick one-twos to move past defenders. G. Caprari looks to pull wide to create space, while D. Mota works to hold up the ball and allow others to join the attack. The wingers G. Kyriakopoulos and P. Ciurria deliver crosses from the flanks to target the strikers in the box.

This formation offers significant advantages in central areas. Monza can create numerical superiority in midfield when D. Maldini pushes up, making it difficult for opponents to track all runners. The presence of G. Kyriakopoulos and P. Ciurria allows for wide overloads, which helps to isolate wide players in one on one situations.

Monza uses this 3-5-2 to control games through central density and wide support. It is a setup best suited for facing teams that play with a single pivot or those that struggle to handle aggressive pressing.