Torino’s autumn is beginning to carry real continuity. After victories over Udinese and Parma, the Granata made it three in succession by beating Monza 3-2 at the Olimpico Grande Torino, reaching 13 points after a match decided by a forceful second half and a moment of quality from Zakaria Belghali.
Kian Fitz-Jim gave Torino a first-half advantage with his first Serie A goal, but Monza’s Varela struck again after the interval to take his league total to seven. Belghali restored the lead with a fine curling effort before Nikola Vlasic finished a sweeping move for 3-1. Ryan Patterson’s late own goal, created by Cyril Ngonge’s cross, reduced the margin but did not alter the outcome.
Torino make one change after Parma
Coach Ignazio Abate made only one alteration to the side that had won 3-0 at Parma on Monday, bringing Fitz-Jim into midfield in place of Daniel Bragança. Mandragora partnered the Dutchman, while Belghali, Saul Coco, Ardian Ismajli and Pietro Comuzzo were retained in defence. Vlasic and Cacciamani supported Che Adams and Giovanni Simeone.
Monza, led by former Torino coach Ivan Juric, also changed only one player following their 4-0 win over Cagliari. Luca Lucchesi returned from suspension for Kouadio. Varela led the visitors’ attack, with Dany Mota and Robinson behind him, while Birindelli and Mangas operated out wide.
A match that turned after the interval
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Monza began with a headed chance for Dany Mota from Birindelli’s corner, before Mandragora fired over at the other end.
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Torino gradually found openings. Simeone created a central opportunity for Cacciamani, who failed to connect cleanly, and Ismajli then headed Mandragora’s cross narrowly wide.
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The breakthrough arrived in the 39th minute. Foe Ondoa lost possession in an advanced area without noticing Simeone intercepting the attempted backward pass. Simeone released Fitz-Jim, who moved into the box and beat Tornqvist with a precise left-footed finish.
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Varela levelled shortly after the restart. Comuzzo’s back-pass fell short, allowing the Portuguese forward to reach the ball before Alberto Perri and lift it over the Torino goalkeeper.
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Mandragora was replaced by Gineitis after asking to come off, while Monza increased their pressure. Torino nevertheless remained dangerous: Belghali had an effort stopped by Tornqvist and Adams sent another attempt narrowly wide.
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Belghali put Torino back in front in the 61st minute with the defining goal of the afternoon. Carrying the ball in from the left side of the attacking third, he beat two opponents and bent a shot from around 20 metres into the far corner.
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Monza responded through Mangas, whose header forced a strong save from Perri, while Simeone was unable to take a chance after Vlasic sent him through and was then replaced, apparently troubled by cramp. Kulenovic, Patterson and Bragança entered for Simeone, Cacciamani and Fitz-Jim.
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Torino’s third followed in the 72nd minute. Patterson pressed Birindelli into losing the ball, and the move continued through Kulenovic, Gineitis and Belghali before Vlasic collected the delivery, deceived Carboni with a feint and beat Tornqvist.
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Adams continued to threaten a fourth, while Juric introduced Patrick Cutrone and Ngonge in search of a late response. Cutrone had an acrobatic effort saved by Perri, although the move had already been halted for offside.
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Belghali left to a warm reception when Aboukhlal replaced him. The final score was changed only in stoppage time, when Patterson turned Ngonge’s cross into his own net while attempting to clear.
Belghali’s influence and Varela’s reply
Belghali was influential on both sides of the contest. He had an active duel with Mangas in the first half, produced the individual action that restored Torino’s lead, and then helped create Vlasic’s goal. His afternoon underlined the attacking confidence now visible in Abate’s side, which kept pushing rather than protecting a narrow advantage.
For Monza, Varela again provided the familiar threat. His equaliser was his seventh league goal of the season, following six in his first six Serie A appearances. Yet the visitors could not turn that momentum into a result, despite a demanding second-half display from Perri and further late pressure.
The meeting also extended Torino’s unbeaten Serie A record against Monza to seven matches, with four wins and three draws. More importantly for Abate and his squad, it was another Sunday that strengthened a growing sense of direction: three consecutive victories, 13 points, and a team finding different scorers when the match requires them.
