Monza’s first league win of the season arrived with the familiar authority of Varela in front of goal, although Sassuolo ensured that Ivan Juric’s side had to see out an anxious finish. The Portuguese forward scored twice in a 2-1 home victory, taking his return to six goals from five competitive appearances for the Brianzoli.
Key takeaways
- Varela’s header and penalty gave Monza a 2-0 advantage shortly after the interval.
- The result was Monza’s first Serie A victory of the campaign under Juric.
- Muric’s handling error contributed to the opening goal after Varela’s header from a corner.
- Substitute Adzic pulled one back with a late free-kick for Sassuolo.
- Bowie struck the crossbar with a header in the closing moments as Sassuolo chased an equaliser.
Fine margins before Monza take control
The opening half was balanced, with both teams creating enough to feel they might have taken charge before the break. Monza began sharply: Cutrone sent a dangerous ball into the area which Cinquegrano diverted, before Kouadio tested Muric with a header inside the first two minutes.
Sassuolo’s clearest opportunity came in the 15th minute. Laurienté found Berardi in space against Monza goalkeeper Tornqvist, but the forward’s first-time effort was stopped. Berardi recovered the loose ball and tried to turn it goalwards, only to send his second attempt wide.
Alberto Aquilani’s visitors then enjoyed a stronger spell, while Monza looked to attack in transition. Robinson curled an effort over, Birindelli forced a straightforward save from Muric, and Esposito produced an inventive backheel to release Thorstvedt. Tornqvist was alert on that occasion, coming out to deny the Sassuolo player. Esposito continued to trouble the home defence before half-time, but neither side found the breakthrough.
The match changed early in the second period, which started without substitutions. Cutrone tested Muric with a turning effort, and the resulting corner brought the first goal. Varela rose highest and headed centrally towards goal; it appeared manageable, but Muric failed to hold the ball and Monza had their lead.
Juric soon refreshed his side, introducing Dani Mota, Bakoune and Ondoa for Cutrone, Mangas and Akinsanmiro. Ondoa was involved in a promising counterattack but could not seriously test Muric.
Varela settles it, then Sassuolo nearly return
Monza doubled their lead in the 61st minute. Dani Mota attacked a loose ball in the penalty area and was brought down by Esposito, with the referee well placed to award the penalty. Varela took responsibility from the spot, sending Muric the wrong way for his second goal of the afternoon.
Aquilani responded with attacking changes, bringing on Bowie and Lipani before replacing Berardi and Salvatore Esposito with Dominguez and Adzic. Yet Monza remained a threat: Ondoa drove an effort narrowly over the crossbar, while Birindelli went close to a third goal in the 79th minute, his left-footed shot passing just outside the post.
Sassuolo’s pressure finally produced a reward in the 88th minute. Adzic, introduced from the bench, struck a right-footed free-kick from the edge of the area and beat Tornqvist at his near post to cut the deficit.
That goal transformed the final stages. Juric had sent on Mout for Robinson, while Skjellerup replaced Barcola for the visitors, who committed themselves forward in search of a point. Adzic delivered another dangerous ball into the box and found Bowie, whose headed effort clipped the crossbar. Monza survived the late surge, with Varela’s decisive 12-minute burst after the interval proving enough to give the home side a needed first success in the championship.
