Monza 2-1 Sassuolo: Varela's Brace Steals a Game Sassuolo Dominated
Gustavo Varela scored twice in twelve minutes as Monza took their first win of the Serie A season despite conceding 65% possession and 20 shots to a wasteful Sassuolo.
Sometimes the table lies, and sometimes a match does. Monza took their first win of the Serie A season on Friday, beating Sassuolo 2-1 in a game the visitors controlled almost everywhere except the scoreboard — a result that eases real pressure on manager Ivan Juric, who had taken one point from his first four matches.
Twelve minutes of Varela
The match was scoreless at the break despite Sassuolo carving out three clear chances, per Sofascore. Then Gustavo Varela decided it almost single-handedly. In the 51st minute he met Samuele Birindelli's corner with a header that squirmed through goalkeeper Arijanet Muric from close range — a moment Muric will not enjoy rewatching, per Football Italia. Twelve minutes later Varela converted from the spot, low to the keeper's left, after Dany Mota was fouled by Sebastiano Esposito.
Vasilije Adzic gave Sassuolo late hope with a right-footed free kick in the 88th minute, but it came too late for a side that had done everything but finish.
The numbers Sassuolo will regret
The visitors arrived as the form team — seven points from their previous three games, including an upset of Juventus — and played like it: 65% possession, a 20-15 edge in shots, and five big chances created without a goal from open play. An injury list that stripped out six defenders did not help, and neither did Monza debutant goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist, who made several key saves to protect the lead.
Varela was named player of the match with an 8.2 Sofascore rating, and it is hard to argue: a header, a penalty, and three points that change the entire mood around Juric's project. For Sassuolo, the lesson is older than the league itself — dominance without conversion is just a prettier way to lose.