Monza 2-1 Sassuolo: Varela brace seals first win of the season

Monza celebrated their first Serie A victory of the season thanks to a Gustavo Varela brace, as Sassuolo stumbled despite the late Vasilije Adzic free kick.

Ivan Juric was feeling the pressure after just one point from four rounds, missing Patrick Ciurria, Jan Ziolkowski and Matteo Pessina, but recovering Ricardo Mangas from an ankle knock and giving Noel Tornqvist his debut on loan from Como. The Neroverdi had seven points from the last three games, including a 3-2 victory over Juventus , but Jay Idzes joined Cristian Volpato, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Daniel Boloca, Fali Candé and Ismael Koné on the treatment table.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 18: Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo in action during the Serie A match between AC Monza and US Sassuolo at U-Power Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) The hosts had an aggressive start, a double ricochet preventing Jay Robinson from turning in the Patrick Cutrone assist during the opening minute.

Debutant Noel Tornqvist had to make a desperate save on Domenico Berardi from point-bank range, meeting the Armand Laurienté cross from the left.

Tornqvist also had to make the difficult save on Darryl Bakola from a tricky angle, then rushed off his line to deny Kristian Thorstvedt after an inspired Sebastiano Esposito back-heel flick. The goalkeeper, already sporting a protective helmet due to a previous injury, was glad of that after accidentally getting a shin in the forehead.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 18: Kristian Thorstvedt of Sassuolo and Noel Tornqvist of Monza in action during the Serie A match between AC Monza and US Sassuolo at U-Power Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Cutrone hesitated before finishing off a Gustavo Varela pass and was robbed when pulling the trigger, then after the restart saw his low drive fingertipped round the near post.

Monza scored on the resulting corner, as Arijanet Muric let the Varela header squirm through his fingers from six yards, a real howler from the Sassuolo goalkeeper who seemed to have the ball fully under control.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 18: Gustavo Varela of AC Monza scores his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Monza and US Sassuolo at U-Power Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Sassuolo were undone by another corner, as Dany Mota Carvalho was brought down clumsily by Esposito for a penalty, converted by Varela to complete his brace.

Vasilije Adzic fired just over after good work from Josh Doig, but it was so nearly 3-0 when Samuele Birindelli’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post.

MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 18: Gustavo Varela of AC Monza scores his team’s second goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between AC Monza and US Sassuolo at U-Power Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Adzic scored the last-gasp winner against Juventus, and this time he curled a powerful right-footed free kick into the far top corner and gave Sassuolo hope late on. Once again, the goalkeeper seemed to be at fault, positioning the wall incorrectly and leaving himself unsighted.

Sassuolo were inches away from an equaliser in stoppages, as Kieron Bowie’s header from an Adzic cross bounced off the top of the far post with Tornqvist able only to watch and hope.

Monza 2-1 Sassuolo Varela 52, pen 63 (M), Adzic 88 (S)

18-09-2026 19:45

MatchDay 5

Stadio Brianteo (U-Power Stadium)

Monza

Sassuolo

Live 2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Eddy Kouadio

30'

2nd half

Gustavo Varela (Assist: Samuele Birindelli)

51'

Gustavo Varela

63'

Michael Folorunsho

74'

Samuele Birindelli

85'

85'

Luca Lipani

88'

Vasilije Adžić

Monza

Sassuolo

Starting lineups

Noel Törnqvist Goalkeeper

44

Andrea Carboni Defender

60

Eddy Kouadio Defender

3

Lorenzo Lucchesi Defender

7

Ricardo Mangas Defender

56'

19

Samuele Birindelli Defender

14

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro Midfielder

56'

90

Michael Folorunsho Midfielder

9

Gustavo Varela Attacker

46

Jay Robinson Attacker

82'

10

Patrick Cutrone Attacker

56'

49

Arijanet Muric Goalkeeper

15

Duje Caleta-Car Defender

16

Fedde Leysen Defender

3

Josh Doig Defender

46

Simone Cinquegrano Defender

50

Darryl Bakola Midfielder

82'

42

Kristian Thorstvedt Midfielder

64'

18

Nemanja Matic Midfielder

64'

45

Armand Lauriente Attacker

10

Domenico Berardi Attacker

72'

94

Sebastiano Esposito Attacker

72'

Substitutes

20

Demba Thiam Goalkeeper

28

Andrea Colpani Midfielder

6

Valentin Antov Defender

21

Leonardo Colombo Midfielder

Cyril Ngonge Attacker

11

Omari Forson Attacker

Saba Goglichidze Defender

Exequiel Zeballos Attacker

43

Aljaz Strajnar Goalkeeper

5

Yvan Maye Defender

47

Dany Mota Attacker

56'

24

Adam Bakoune Defender

56'

8

Foe Ondoa Midfielder

56'

80

Mathis Mout Attacker

82'

12

Giacomo Satalino Goalkeeper

80

Stefano Turati Goalkeeper

8

Andrea Ghion Defender

77

Nicholas Pierini Attacker

20

Ignace Van Der Brempt Defender

55

Ibrahim Sulemana Midfielder

26

Cas Odenthal Defender

33

Rafa Obrador Defender

35

Luca Lipani Midfielder

64'

9

Kieron Bowie Attacker

64'

25

Benja Domínguez Attacker

72'

17

Vasilije Adžić Midfielder

72'

19

Laurs Skjellerup Attacker

82'