At this point in the season, both teams had wanted to be nearer the top half of the standings than the bottom. Josh Doig made his debut right away as Neroverdi captain Domenico Berardi underwent knee surgery this week due to injuries to Jeremy Toljan, Matias Vina, and Gregoire Defrel. After a poor clearing by Kristian Thorstvedt, who scuffed the finish wide from 12 yards, Dany Mota Carvalho came dangerously close to capitalizing on a wobbly control by Andrea Consigli.
On minute 23, Monza appeared to have taken the lead when Samuele Birindelli latched onto a back-heel flick from Andrea Colpani, and the cross found Mota for a diving header at the near post, but it was flagged offside. After being out for three weeks, Michele Di Gregorio came back in goal and had to stop a shot from Armand Lauriente. However, Thorstvedt's left-foot daisy-cutter beat him and smacked the base of the upright.