Parma vs Monza: Winless sides seek first Serie A points
Parma welcome Monza to the Stadio Ennio Tardini on Sunday afternoon for a Matchday 3 Serie A encounter between two sides still chasing their first points of the 2026/27 campaign. The hosts are smarting from a 1-0 home defeat by Cagliari, while Monza arrive bruised by heavy losses to Inter and Udinese.
Team News and Injury Latest
Parma head coach Fabio Pisacane will again be without defender Botond Balogh (thigh) and midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, who underwent hernia surgery after the Cagliari game. El Bilal Touré is expected to lead the line despite a quiet debut, with Simone Lontani in support and Pontus Almqvist providing width. The likely 4-3-3 will see Adrián Bernabé drop into midfield alongside Mandela Keita and Christian Ordoñez, while Edoardo Corvi continues in goal.
Monza’s injury crisis has deepened since the opening round. Captain Matteo Pessina (knee) and summer signing Gustavo Varela (adductor) are long-term absentees, while Danilo D’Ambrosio, Patrick Ciurria, Leonardo Colombo, Alessio Cragno, Warren Bondo and Pedro Obiang are also unavailable. Patrick Cutrone has returned from a layoff but lacks match sharpness. New arrival Michael Folorunsho could make his first start. Ivan Juric may deploy a patchwork 3-4-2-1 with Thiam in goal, a defensive trio of Antov, Delli Carri and Carboni, and Birindelli and Mangas as wing-backs.
Form Guide
Parma were toothless in their opener, registering only two shots on target against Cagliari and conceding a poor goal from a set-piece. Last season’s Serie B champions looked physically robust—covering 96.32 km—but lacked cutting edge in the final third. Home support at the Tardini will demand a much sharper display.
Monza’s start has been alarming. A 4-1 collapse at Inter was followed by a 3-2 home defeat to Udinese in which they shipped three goals inside the first half. Juric’s side have conceded seven times in two matches and are yet to keep a clean sheet. The return of Cutrone offers some hope, but the side’s defensive organisation has been badly undermined by the absentees.