This is a new era for Monza.

The reign of the Berlusconi family, who had owned the club since 2018, is now officially over after the Biancorosso were handed over to a US consortium last summer.

The club was bought by Beckett Layne Ventures, who have now officially purchased an 80% stake.

“We are honoured to announce the acquisition of AC Monza by Beckett Layne Ventures,” said an official statement from the firm this week.

“We wish to thank the Berlusconi family and the Fininvest Group for their collaboration throughout the months of work that have brought us to this point. 

“We would also like to extend our gratitude to all the professionals who have already welcomed us to the club and facilitated our integration during the shared management phase, beginning with Adriano Galliani, to whom we extend our warmest wishes for the future.”

Galliani, Silvio Berlusconi’s most-trusted advisor for decades at Milan and then Monza, has officially left the club, and it is likely other changes will be afoot in the coming weeks and months ahead.

But for now, there is the challenge of Padova at the Stadio Brianteo on Saturday afternoon.

Monza were labelled as one of the favourites to gain automatic promotion back to Serie A and have started the season in decent form. Two wins from four and a draw means Paolo Bianco’s men sit fifth in the table.

Their last outing ended in a 1-0 win against Sampdoria at the U-Power, and Bianco will be hoping for more of the same this time around.

Padova, meanwhile, find themselves at the other end of the spectrum. If Monza are fancied for promotion, the name of the game for the Venetian side is to avoid the drop back into Serie C.

Papu Gomez is still some weeks away from making his debut, with his doping ban nearing its end, and coach Matteo Andreoletti will be hoping the Argentine will make a difference from the start.

Padova’s last outing ended in a 2-1 home win against Virtus Entella, marking their first Serie B victory since May 2019.

That will have boosted confidence for Andreoletti’s men, and they will need every bit of it against Monza at the Brianteo this weekend.

Monza will line up most likely with the 3-4-2-1 Bianco has used up to this point, while Padova will stick with a 3-5-2 that produced the victory over Entella.

Can Monza continue their good form, or will Padova be buoyed by their win over Entella and get something from the Brianteo? Tune in to find out.

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