After eight defeats and three draws in their last 11 matches, Monza achieved their second win of the Serie A season by defeating Fiorentina 2-1 on Monday in the final game of matchday 20.
Monza coach Salvatore Bocchetti secured his first victory in his ninth game in charge, having replaced former international Alessandro Nesta. Meanwhile, Fiorentina’s struggles continued under their former coach Raffaele Palladino, as they went five consecutive matches without a win, recording four losses and one draw.
Monza now has 13 points but remains at the bottom of the table, while Fiorentina stays in sixth place with 32 points and a game in hand against Inter.
Patrick Ciurria (44′) and Daniel Maldini (63′) scored for Monza, while substitute Lucas Beltrán netted a penalty (74′) for Fiorentina.
Fiorentina initially tried to take the lead, earning a penalty after a collision between Spanish defender Pablo Marí and visiting winger Riccardo Sottil. However, referee Federico Dionisi overturned the decision after consulting VAR (19′).
Monza then took control, with Warren Bondo’s shot narrowly missing the left post (25′). Portuguese Pedro Pereira delivered a cross that was intercepted by Fiorentina defender Pietro Comuzzo, only for the ball to land in front of Ciurria, who fired a powerful left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner past veteran Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea (44′).
Daniel Maldini nearly added a second goal with a close-range shot that grazed the left post (45+2′).
Monza defender Andrea Carboni denied Fiorentina an equalizer by clearing Lucas Beltrán’s shot off the goal line after Stefano Turati parried a cross from Brazilian Dodo into the Argentine striker’s path (54′).
Maldini doubled Monza’s lead with a volleyed strike inside the penalty area, finding the bottom-right corner after a precise cross from Pereira on the right flank (63′).
However, Carboni later conceded a penalty by fouling Beltrán, who converted it successfully despite Turati’s effort to save, reducing the deficit (74′).
