Frosinone vs Monza Match Recap - Oct 18, 2025

Keita Baldé’s Moment of Brilliance Lifts Monza Past Frosinone in Tense Serie B Clash at Benito Stirpe

On a brisk October afternoon in Frosinone, a single flash of individual quality separated two of Serie B’s most ambitious promotion hopefuls. Keita Baldé’s decisive strike in the 38th minute was enough to hand Monza a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Frosinone at the Stadio Benito Stirpe—a result that reverberates through both the standings and the rhythm of the league campaign.

The match unfolded under taut anticipation, the kind that has become customary when these sides meet. Their most recent head-to-head, a Coppa Italia tilt in August, ended with Frosinone celebrating at the U-Power Stadium. Saturday, the pendulum swung the other way, as Monza exacted a measured, professional revenge.

From the onset, Frosinone’s home form and third-place standing emboldened a team still rattled by its stumble at Venezia just a fortnight prior. Their attack, which had dazzled in September’s five-goal blitz at Mantova, pressed high and early, eager to reassert command. But Monza’s discipline, especially in midfield, gradually muted the hosts’ rhythm. Filippo Ranocchia and Andrea Colpani screened the back line with authority, snuffing out Frosinone’s probing runs and forcing play wide.

The tension finally cracked seven minutes before halftime. A slick passage of play saw Samuele Birindelli overlap down the right, collecting a delicate pass before firing a low cross into the area. The ball ricocheted in a dangerous pocket, but Baldé—timing his run with precision—nipped ahead of his marker and swept a first-time shot past a sprawling Stefano Turati. The stadium, momentarily stunned, watched Monza's forward wheel away in celebration, his teammates swarming in acknowledgment of a finish that combined both poise and instinct.

For Frosinone, the game’s lone goal underscored an increasing sense of frustration. Antonio Raimondo, hero of the Cesena win, found pockets of space but rarely wriggled free from Monza’s vice-like central defense. Farès Ghedjemis, so often the spark, was forced deeper and wider in search of involvement, evidencing how effectively Monza’s press turned Frosinone’s strength into a liability. The home supporters, who had witnessed a ten-goal Frosinone outburst over the previous three matches at this ground, were left to wonder where the verve had gone.

The second half summoned Frosinone’s urgency, but Monza grew only more compact, content to manage both tempo and territory. Substitute Edoardo Vergani offered fresh legs and a fleeting threat, forcing Michele Di Gregorio into a smart save on 68 minutes. Yet Monza’s lines held, marshaled by the composure of Andrea Carboni and the leadership of Giulio Donati, both of whom snuffed out danger before it grew teeth.

Referee Daniele Minelli kept his cards pocketed in a contest marked more by battles of will than outbursts of temper. There were moments when emotions simmered—minor shoves, heated protests after a penalty appeal waved away—but discipline prevailed, and no red cards were issued.

The final whistle brought a cathartic roar from the Monza technical area. Having suffered a narrow home defeat to Frosinone in August’s Coppa Italia, Raffaele Palladino’s men could savor a result that flips the narrative, both in the rivalry and in their current campaign. Monza, now winners in three of their last five league outings, vault to 11 points—good for seventh place and within striking distance of the promotion playoff mix.

For Frosinone, the loss is a bruise rather than a break. Their position in third, with 14 points from seven games, is still robust, but a pattern emerges: the defending still lacks the steel that promotion requires, and striking output—so vibrant in recent weeks—appeared flat against a Monza side that did its homework. The last five outings, punctuated by the heavy defeat in Venice and the Coppa Italia disappointment at Cagliari, now frame Saturday’s loss as both warning and motivator.

Beyond the technicalities of standing and scoring, Saturday’s match reminds both sides—and the league itself—of the fine margins that define Serie B’s marathon. For Monza, it is a statement that the squad’s revival is gathering momentum, with Baldé serving as both finisher and talisman. For Frosinone, the path remains uphill, but their early-season foundation ensures they remain central to the conversation.

Next weekend, both teams return to the grind of promotion racing, knowing that fortunes in Serie B tilt with the smallest of moments. At Benito Stirpe, Monza claimed theirs, leaving Frosinone with unfinished work and a fresh chapter in a rivalry that promises more drama before season’s end.