Juric is wary of Cagliari (“They’re well-balanced”) and Pisacane (“He’s skilled and sharp”)
Ivan Juric is well aware that Cagliari, set to play at the Brianteo on Monday evening (kickoff at 6:45 p.m.), will be a tough opponent. “They have quick players, they can counterattack fast, but they also play attractive soccer because they have no shortage of quality players,” says the Monza coach. “In a nutshell, they’re a tough team to face.”
“They’ve found the right balance,” he adds. “The Sardinian team also knows how to defend with a low defensive line, but they always do so with great quality. Their position in the standings has been built primarily on their defensive solidity.” In fact, the Rossoblu have conceded only three goals in the league so far.
The Croatian coach had high praise for his younger colleague Fabio Pisacane: “He’s doing a great job. He’s a very sharp young man who has found the right way to handle situations and bring out the best in his players. Even those who arrive there after less-than-positive experiences manage to regain their confidence and perform at their best.”
Pisacane, who has been at the helm of Cagliari since the summer of 2025, will, however, have to deal with a suspension at the Brianteo: the Disciplinary Committee has suspended him for one match following his heated confrontation with Luciano Spalletti at the end of the Cagliari-Juventus match, which ended 1-1. On that occasion, referee Marcenaro had sent off both coaches, and the suspension was justified by his reaction to his colleague’s provocative behavior, which fueled the tension between the two benches. As for Monza, Juric will have to do without Lorenzo Lucchesi, who is suspended for one match after being sent off for a foul on an opponent with a clear scoring opportunity.
That draw with the Bianconeri confirmed the Sardinian team’s resilience: the Rossoblù fell behind in the 20th minute on a goal by Daniel Maldini—on his birthday—and were tied in the 81st minute by a header from Kolo Muani off a cross by Alajbegovic, who then also hit the crossbar late in the game. In the first half, Yerry Mina was the standout player, using clever tactical play to unsettle the Juventus forwards. Cagliari thus reached 13 points, the same as Frosinone, which defeated Sassuolo 4-2 in the last round.
For Monza, on the other hand, the season got off to a rocky start: in the first four matchdays, they earned just one point—a 1-1 draw at Parma—along with a 3-2 loss at Lecce in a direct relegation battle. The turning point came before the break with a 2-1 home win over Sassuolo, thanks to a two-goal performance by Gustavo Varela, which brought the Brianza-based team to 4 points and temporarily lifted them out of the relegation zone.
