Monza has officially rejoined the elite of Italian football. Just one year after experiencing the bitterness of relegation, the Lombardy-based club confirmed its promotion to Serie A on Friday night. The achievement came at the conclusion of a high-stakes play-off final against Catanzaro that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the very end.
A dramatic path to the top flight
Entering the second leg with a seemingly comfortable 2-0 advantage from the first encounter, Paolo Bianco’s squad faced a surprisingly fierce challenge on their home turf. Catanzaro managed to erase the deficit entirely, securing a 2-0 victory in the return match. Goals from Fellipe Jack and Ruggero Frosinini silenced the local supporters and leveled the aggregate score at 2-2, leaving Monza’s promotion dreams hanging by a thread.
However, despite the aggregate stalemate over the two legs, the competition regulations dictated a specific outcome. No extra time was scheduled for this scenario; instead, the promotion was awarded to the team that finished higher in the regular season standings. Having secured third place in the league compared to Catanzaro’s fifth-place finish, Monza was declared the winner of the tie.
Second promotion in four years
The Brianzoli have now celebrated their second rise to the top tier in just four years, following their memorable 2022 success against Pisa. This promotion serves as a major redemption for a club that had previously shown great ambition in the top flight, even eyeing European spots before their unexpected descent last season. Monza now prepares to test itself once again against the giants of Italian football.
