Pordenone defeated Monza 3:1 in the opening match of the Super League season on October 18th. Both sides entered the fixture with zero games played, zero points, and no record either way. The result means one team starts above the other for the first time this campaign.
We had given Monza the edge, backing them to win with 73 per cent confidence. That prediction did not come off. By then it was clear the visitors had not found their rhythm away from home.
Monza's recent form on the road had been shaky — they had gone down 0:4 to Velo Volley Milano just two weeks earlier. Pordenone, meanwhile, showed they could dig in when needed. The wheels came off for the away side when they needed to respond.
With both teams at zero games and zero points, the standings carry little weight at this stage. What matters is the momentum, and Pordenone took it into their own hands. To be fair, a season opener is never a true indicator, but this result will make life awkward for Monza's coaching staff.
The scoreline tells the story: Pordenone start with a point to spare. Monza will need to work out what went wrong before their next fixture.
