Monza is back in Serie A. Just one year after relegation, the Lombard club secured their return to the top tier on Friday following an unforgettable playoff final against Catanzaro. The Biancorossi started brightly with a commanding 2-0 victory away from home, but their dominance unraveled in the second leg.

Catanzaro fought back with a relentless 2-0 triumph of their own at home, thanks to goals from Fellipe Jack and Ruggero Frosinini, leaving Monza shell-shocked in front of their own fans. The tension was palpable as the underdogs pushed for a historic upset, but the Monza players held their nerve under intense pressure.

With the aggregate score locked at 2-2, the tiebreaker rules came into play. Italian football regulations state that in such cases, the team with the higher league position during the regular season earns promotion. Monza finished third in Serie B, while Catanzaro settled for fifth place, sealing the Lombard side’s promotion to Serie A.

This marks Monza’s second ascent to Serie A in four years, following their previous promotion against Pisa in 2022. A moment of great relief for a club that had briefly dared to dream of European football during their first stint in the top flight before their swift relegation last season.