Monza ended Cagliari’s four-game unbeaten run with a 4-0 win at the U-Power Stadium, as Gustavo Varela scored twice and Noel Törnqvist kept the Brianzoli’s first clean sheet of the season.
Ivan Juric’s side arrived on four points after a 3-1 defeat at Lazio, and were without the suspended Lorenzo Lucchesi, so Saba Goglichidze came into the back three. Matteo Pessina, Idrissa Touré, Jan Ziolkowski, Zeballos and Mayé were all injured. Cagliari had won their last four away games and held Juventus 1-1 last time out, but Fabio Pisacane was suspended after his row with Luciano Spalletti, so assistant Giacomo Murelli led the team from the bench. Mattia Felici, Riyad Idrissi and Yael Trepy were unavailable, and M’Bala Nzola partnered Paul Mendy up front.
Samuele Birindelli bent an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the box early on, while Zé Pedro headed off target from a Cagliari corner.
Elia Caprile got down well to keep out Dany Mota’s low shot heading for the bottom corner. At the other end, Törnqvist dived to deny Nzola after Mendy’s through ball, then also saved from Mendy.
Monza went ahead on the break in the 39th minute, when Mota slipped a pass through for centre-back Eddy Kouadio, who finished low from close range.
MONZA, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Valentin Antov of AC Monza is challenged by Harry Winks of Cagliari Calcio during the Serie A match between AC Monza and Cagliari Calcio at U-Power Stadium on October 19, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Monza put Cagliari to the sword with clinical second half
The lead doubled within two minutes of the restart. Foe Ondoa laid the ball off to Varela, and he fired across Caprile into the bottom-left corner.
Cagliari pushed for a way back. Mendy headed wide from a corner, and Törnqvist produced an outstanding stop to claw away Yerry Mina’s header towards the near post.
Instead, Monza struck again on 66 minutes. Varela turned provider for Jay Robinson, who curled a superb shot from the edge of the area into the bottom-right corner.
Mendy somehow missed from close range after Alieu Fadera’s cross, substitute Andrea Colpani hit the left post and Mina nodded another header narrowly wide.
Varela added his second in the 79th minute. Robinson broke clear and hit the right post, and the Uruguayan was on hand to tap in the rebound. Törnqvist made sure of the clean sheet with two late saves to deny substitute Kevin Carlos.
Monza 4-0 Cagliari
Kouadio 39 (M), Varela 47, 79 (M), Robinson 66 (M)