Cagliari's chances doubled their norm, and Monza still scored

Monza beat Cagliari at the Stadio Brianteo with the visitors holding more of the ball and the better chances on the figures, but Monza's finishing settled the match.

Cagliari had more of the ball, more shots and better chances than they usually manage away from home, and they still left Monza with nothing. Their expected goals figure, a measure of the quality of chances based on where and how shots are taken, came to 1.75. Their away average this season is 0.79, so the visitors created more than twice their usual threat.

Cagliari had 54% of the ball, against an away average of 38.33%, and they fired 16 shots at the Monza goal. Their usual away figure is 8.83, and across the league a side averages 13.9 shots a match, so this was a busy afternoon by any measure. Possession and volume were both there for the visitors.

Monza had 46% of the ball, a little above their home average of 44.5%, and they took 14 shots, close to their usual 12.83. Their expected goals of 1.88 sits just above their home norm of 1.73, so their chances were slightly better than usual but not wildly so. The league average for expected goals per side is 1.39, which puts both teams above the typical level.

Where Monza differed was in the finishing. They scored four goals, against a home average of 1.5, and six of their shots were on target. Eddy Kouadio opened the scoring in the 39th minute, set up by Dany Mota. Gustavo Varela then scored in the 47th and 79th minutes, and he also set up Jay Robinson's goal in the 66th. Varela's match rating of 9.71 was the highest on the sheet.

The defensive picture was just as one-sided. Monza conceded nothing, when their home average is 2.5 goals against, and their goalkeeper N. Törnqvist made five saves. Cagliari, who normally concede half a goal a match on their travels, went home having conceded as many as Monza scored.

Cagliari arrived with a useful away run, having won four of their last six matches on their travels. This was not a result that came from a poor side on the road, at least on the recent evidence. The chances they made had not been matched by goals in this game, and that gap is what stands out in the figures.

On their own grounds the two sides are a long way apart. Monza's home record stands at 7 points from seven matches, while Cagliari's away record is 13 points from the same number of games.

Player of the matchGustavo Varela2 goals · 1 assist9.7

E. Kouadio1 goal8.6

Jay Robinson1 goal8.2

M. Ondoa1 assist8.1