Monza got back to winning ways thanks to Patrick Ciurria and Armando Izzo goals, extending their advantage over Empoli in the table, with their first home victory of 2023.
Only one point separated these sides going into the game, as the hosts were coming off back-to-back defeats and the Tuscans managed three points from five rounds. Samuele Birindelli and Marlon returned from suspension, but Nicolò Rovella and Dany Mota Carvalho were injured, with Giulio Donati banned. Empoli had Filippo Bandinelli and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro back, but Mattia Destro and Nicolò Cambiaghi still sidelined. A big last-minute loss was goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario with a rib injury, so Samuele Perisan got his Serie A debut.
Empoli had the ball in the net after 10 minutes with Martin Satriano’s header, after an initial save on Francesco Caputo, but the veteran striker was offside.
Monza also saw the offside flag go up when Patrick Ciurria drilled under Perisan from just inside the area on a cheeky Andrea Petagna back-heel flick, but this time VAR confirmed he was in play.
Moments later, Carlos Augusto smashed a ferocious effort just past the far top corner, while Ardian Ismajli’s header was also not far off target.
Birindelli stung Perisan’s gloves at the near post, but Empoli came out fighting for the second half and Razvan Marin floated a cross that was flicked on by Pablo Mari to the back post for Satriano’s header to equalise.
Marin was about to score directly from the corner flag until Michele Di Gregorio back-tracked to flap it out from the far top corner, but Monza restored their advantage with Armando Izzo’s free header from 12 yards on a Gianluca Caprari corner, in off the inside of the far post. It was the ninth goal this season that Empoli conceded from corner situations.
The visitors pushed to the end, as Sebastiano Luperto’s header was charged down and a Marin pull-back was deflected onto the side-netting.
There were penalty appeals in stoppages, but Andrea Colpani had his back to Marko Pjaca and his arm close to the torso when blocking the shot.
Monza 2-1 Empoli
Ciurria 19 (M), Satriano 51 (E), Izzo 67 (M)
Player statistic
| Samuele Birindelli (Assist: Andrea Petagna) |
 |
19' | ||
| 34' |  |
Fabiano Parisi | ||
| Samuele Birindelli | |
45+2' | ||
| 45+1' | |
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro |
| Matteo Pessina | |
49' | ||
| 51' | |
Martín Satriano | ||
| 53' | |
Razvan Marin | ||
| Armando Izzo (Assist: Gianluca Caprari) |
|
67' |
Match statistic
