Monza Returns to Serie A Despite Home Defeat, Catanzaro's Playoff Dream Ends on Aggregate

Monza has returned to Italy's top football division, Serie A, after a single season in the second tier. The Lombardy club lost 2-0 to Catanzaro at the U-Power Stadium in the second leg of the Serie B playoff final on Friday, 29 May 2026, but triumphed in the tie due to a superior league position after the two legs ended 2-2 on aggregate.

The Decisive Tie

Monza had won the first leg 2-0 at Catanzaro's Stadio Nicola Ceravolo. In the return fixture, Felipe Jack gave the visitors a 40th-minute lead, and Ruggero Frosinini added a second in the 78th minute. Catanzaro, managed by Alberto Aquilani, pushed desperately for a third goal that would have secured a historic promotion, but Monza held on. The aggregate score finished level, and because Monza finished 3rd in the regular season compared to Catanzaro's 5th place, the home side advanced without the need for extra time or penalties.

I thought I would suffer less; I dedicate this to my wife.

Catanzaro's Brave Effort

Catanzaro came agonizingly close to a remarkable comeback. The Calabrian side, who had not been in Serie A for 43 years, dominated large portions of the match and were applauded by their traveling fans. They hit the woodwork, forced several saves from Monza goalkeeper Thiam, and saw captain Iemmello miss a clear chance for a third goal. Coach Aquilani was left in tears on the bench after the final whistle, consoled by his Monza counterpart Paolo Bianco in a show of sportsmanship.

The Road Back

Monza's immediate return to the top flight completes a redemption arc after a disastrous 2024/25 season that saw them relegated. The club, controlled by an American investor and the Berlusconi family, appointed Bianco in the summer and rebuilt. They join Venezia and Frosinone, who gained automatic promotion, in Serie A next season. Cremonese, Verona, and Pisa are relegated in their place.

A Date with History

In a curious coincidence, Monza celebrated this promotion on 29 May, exactly four years after the club first reached Serie A in its 110-year history on 29 May 2022, an event witnessed by Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani. The current squad, featuring players like Pessina, Dany Mota, Colpani, and Caso, now prepares for the club's fourth-ever season in the Italian top flight.