On December 15, 2024, Lecce moved out of the relegation zone with a narrow but hard-fought 2-1 victory over Monza at their home ground. The match marked yet another chapter in the struggles of both teams this season, as they fought for valuable points to escape the bottom of the Serie A table.
With Lecce positioned precariously just above the relegation zone with 13 points prior to the match, they were eager for success against Monza, who was sitting 19th with only 10 points to their name. Under new manager Marco Giampaolo, Lecce had seen some improvement recently, and fans were hoping for this trend to continue.
The home side started aggressively, and Tete Morente opened the scoring within the first three minutes, sending the home crowd erupting with joy. The fresh energy from the crowd seemed to inspire Lecce as they built on their early lead.
Monza, struggling all season under coach Alessandro Nesta, was desperate to turn their form around. Just when it seemed they might concede more, the match took another turn. Monza equalized when Lecce's Patrick Dorgu accidentally directed the ball past his own goalkeeper during a defensive lapse, making it 1-1 after 37 minutes.
Despite the setback, Lecce’s Nikolai Krstovic managed to restore their lead just before the halftime whistle, completing a well-constructed move with composure, sending Lecce back to the lead with the score set at 2-1 heading to the locker room.
Throughout the second half, both teams continued to push for goals, leading to some tense moments inside the stadium. Lecce, buoyed by their goal lead, controlled possession but found it difficult to close the game out without the threat of Monza’s counter-attacks.
Both teams were handed controversial penalty calls during the second half, but after consulting VAR, the referee rescinded these decisions, leaving the score unchanged. Monza sensed they still had time to pull off a draw, but they struggled to penetrate Lecce's defense, which stood tall under pressure.
At the final whistle, Lecce celebrated their hard-earned victory, which lifted them to 13th place with 16 points, pushing Monza to the brink of crisis with just 10 points and firmly planted at 19th place on the table.
This match not only showcased the resolve of Lecce under Giampaolo but also underscored the difficulties Monza faces as they aim to turn their season around. With both teams finding themselves battling relegation, upcoming matches will be pivotal as they each seek to secure their place in Serie A.
Looking forward, Lecce fans will hope their team can maintain this form and build on the momentum as they tackle future challenges, whereas Monza must regroup quickly to avoid what could be disastrous for their hopes of survival.
