Gustavo Varela, Monza's 21-year-old forward, scored twice as the Brianzoli defeated Avellino 3-0 at the Brianteo on August 15 to advance to the Coppa Italia round of sixteen. Osman Forson added the third. Paolo Bianco's side — or rather, the coach named in the squad context — did not feature in the match reports, which credit Ivan Juric as the man in the dugout; the result stands regardless: a clean sheet, a brace from Varela, and a place in the next round.
The timing matters. Varela arrives at this pre-season fixture carrying a Serie A 2025-26 campaign of six goals and three assists across 32 matches, an average rating of 6.74, and an AI overall score of 61 out of a potential 68. That gap between current and ceiling is the most interesting number attached to his profile. At 21, he is not yet the finished article, but the trajectory is credible, and a brace against Avellino — however modest the opposition — is the kind of early-season confidence builder that can set a tone.
Monza's context sharpens the significance. The club confirmed before the match that captain Matteo Pessina suffered a serious knee injury and will be absent for an extended period. Losing a captain and a creative reference point at the start of a season creates a vacuum in the dressing room and on the pitch. Varela cannot fill that role in terms of experience or leadership tenure, but he can fill it in terms of goals. Six in 32 Serie A appearances last season was a reasonable return for a player still finding his footing at this level; a brace on the first competitive night of the new campaign suggests he is not waiting for permission to take on more.
Monza next face either Torino or Carrarese in the round of sixteen. The step up in quality will be considerable, and Varela's Serie A numbers — solid without being prolific — indicate he is still developing the consistency required against organised defenses. His assist tally of three also points to a player who reads the game beyond pure finishing, which gives Juric options in how he deploys him.
The Pessina injury casts a shadow, but Varela's double offers the clearest early evidence that Monza have a forward capable of carrying attacking responsibility when the squad needs it most.