Monza 3-0 Avellino: Varela brace on debut, Forson seals Coppa Italia win (full highlights)

Monza cruised into the Coppa Italia Round of 32 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Avellino at the U-Power Stadium, with debutant Gustavo Varela scoring a first-half brace to announce his arrival in style. The Portuguese forward, who joined from Benfica, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Patrick Cutrone's initial effort was blocked, firing home from the edge of the area. Cutrone then turned provider just before the break, winning a physical duel with Simic and squaring for Varela, who tapped in his second of the night in the 45th minute. The second half continued in the same vein, with Omari Forson adding a third in the 51st minute after a brilliant move involving Varela and Cutrone, who delivered his second assist of the match. Cutrone had a goal ruled out for offside later on, denying him a deserved spot on the scoresheet. The result sets up a Round of 32 clash against the winner of Torino versus Carrarese, but the real story was the instant chemistry between Varela and Cutrone. Manager Ivan Juric, in his first competitive game in charge, saw his side dominate possession and create numerous chances, with Varela earning a perfect 8 out of 10 in the player ratings. The match was played without the home fans in the Curva Pieri, who boycotted the game in protest over the club's ticketing policy for the Coppa Italia. The full match highlights and all goals are available to watch, showcasing a Monza side that looks ready for the Serie A opener against Inter at San Siro on August 22.