Monza 2-1 Sassuolo: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Serie A Matchday 5 · Friday 18 September 2026 · U-Power Stadium, Monza · referee D. Perenzoni · full time
Full time: Monza 2-1 Sassuolo
Monza beat Sassuolo 2-1 in Serie A Matchday 5 on Friday 18 September 2026 at U-Power Stadium. The goals: Gustavo Varela 51', Gustavo Varela 63', Vasilije Adžić 88'.
How Monza won it
Gustavo Varela put Monza ahead in the 51st minute, set up by Samuele Birindelli. Gustavo Varela from the penalty spot made it 2-0 to Monza in the 63rd minute. Vasilije Adžić made it 2-1 to Sassuolo in the 88th minute.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
Gustavo Varela scored twice.
The referee, D. Perenzoni, showed 5 yellow cards: 4 to Monza and 1 to Sassuolo.
Monza: I. Juric, 3-4-2-1 · Sassuolo: A. Aquilani, 4-3-3.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.81 for Monza and 1.70 for Sassuolo.
Monza had 6 shots on target, Sassuolo 8.
Monza's goalkeeper made 7 saves.
Sassuolo had 65% of the ball, but Monza took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Monza came into it with 5 Serie A matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 2.4 a match, with 1.71 expected goals for and 1.28 against, and had won 20% of their matches.
Sassuolo came into it with 5 Serie A matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.8 a match, with 1.81 expected goals for and 1.47 against, and had won 40% of their matches.
Monza vs Sassuolo: the match in numbers
| Monza | Match statistics | Sassuolo |
|---|---|---|
| 35% | Ball possession | 65% |
| 1.81 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.70 |
| 15 | Total shots | 20 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 8 |
| 3 | Big chances | 6 |
| 312 | Total passes | 581 |
| 79% | Pass accuracy | 88% |
| 7 | Corners | 5 |
| 13 | Fouls | 6 |
| 0 | Offsides | 1 |
| 25 | Tackles | 23 |
| 7 | Saves | 4 |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Gustavo Varela (Monza), rated 8.1 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals.
Monza
- Gustavo Varela 8.1 2 goals
- Noel Törnqvist 7.8
- Samuele Birindelli 7.5 1 assist
- Lorenzo Lucchesi 7.3
- Eddy Kouadio 7.2
Sassuolo
- Darryl Bakola 7.6
- Armand Laurienté 7.3
- Vasilije Adžić 7.2 1 goal
- Kieron Bowie 7.0
- Duje Caleta-Car 7.0
The lowest-rated starter was Michael Folorunsho at 6.3. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Monza: Lazio vs Monza Sunday 11 October 2026 · Serie A
- Sassuolo: Sassuolo vs AC Milan Sunday 11 October 2026 · Serie A
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Monza vs Sassuolo
What was the score in Monza vs Sassuolo?
Monza 2-1 Sassuolo (half-time 0-0), Serie A, Friday 18 September 2026.
Who scored in Monza vs Sassuolo?
Gustavo Varela 51', Gustavo Varela 63', Vasilije Adžić 88'.
Did Moneyball predict Monza vs Sassuolo correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Monza vs Sassuolo?
Gustavo Varela, rated 8.1 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Monza vs Sassuolo?
D. Perenzoni.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.