Gustavo Varela struck twice in the second half to give Monza their first win of the Serie A season, a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo on Friday that eased the pressure on manager Ivan Juric and lifted the Brianzoli to four points in the standings.
The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in the 51st minute and converted a penalty twelve minutes later, before Vasilije Adzic pulled one back for the visitors with a direct free-kick in the 88th minute.
Varela doubles up as Juric earns breathing room
The match at the Stadio Brianteo marked a turning point for Juric, appointed on 29 June 2026, who arrived into the fifth round still seeking his first league win. Varela's brace, described as decisive in a contest shaped by Sassuolo errors, moved Monza clear of the relegation zone and granted the coach what Italian media called "a tranquil international break."
The opener came from a cross by Birindelli. Varela found space at the edge of the six-yard box and sent a header toward goal. Sassuolo goalkeeper Muric, positioned to collect, allowed the ball to slip through his hands and into the net.
Monza doubled their lead at the 63rd minute. Substitute Dany Mota drove into the area, where Sebastiano Esposito arrived late with a challenge that brought him down. Varela sent Muric the wrong way from the spot, his fourth league goal of the campaign.
Adzic's late strike, a powerful free-kick that struck the post on its way in, set up a tense finish. Sassuolo nearly levelled in added time when Bowie flicked a header against the crossbar.
Debutant Tornqvist keeps Monza in it
Monza's third-choice goalkeeper, Tornqvist, made his league debut and produced four decisive saves to preserve the result. The 24-year-old, on loan from Como, denied Domenico Berardi from close range in the 15th minute, stopped Bakola's angled drive midway through the half, and smothered a chance from Thorstvedt just before the break.
Manager Ivan Juric had rotated the goalkeeping position after earlier concessions. Tornqvist's performance, rated 6.5 by match analysts, stemmed from errors by Pizzignacco against Inter and Thiam in previous weeks.
Errors prove costly for Aquilani's side
Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani acknowledged after the match that his team "played well" but lacked "the spark to decide the game." He pointed to "two errors and two episodes" that determined the outcome.
Sebastiano Esposito had been called up to the Italy national team for the first time earlier in the week, but his foul on Dany Mota undid much of that celebration.
The defeat leaves Sassuolo on seven points, still seeking momentum after their victory over Juventus. For Monza, the result extends a commanding run: the club has now won four times in five Serie A meetings against the Neroverdi, with one draw.
What changes for fans
Monza travel after the international break with renewed confidence and a settled goalkeeper. Sassuolo return to training needing to address defensive lapses before their next fixture.
