Forward who left Benfica this summer bags brace in Coppa Italia | OneFootball

Gustavo Varela had a dream debut for Monza and got his new adventure in Italian football off to the best possible start. The Portuguese forward was named in the starting lineup against Avellino, from Italy’s second division, and quickly showed he is determined to earn his place in the newly promoted Serie A side.

The 21-year-old striker scored twice in Monza’s 3-0 win over Avellino in the Coppa Italia round of 64. Gustavo Varela needed just 22 minutes to open the scoring and found the net again in the 45th minute, putting the Italian side in a comfortable position before the break.

The Italian team went on to confirm the victory in the second half, with Omari Forson scoring in the 51st minute to seal the final result. The former Clube da Luz forward was, naturally, one of the standout performers of the match, in a debut that could hardly have gone any better after joining Monza on a permanent deal.

The Portugal youth international striker left Benfica after a loan spell at Gil Vicente, where he managed to gain greater competitive experience. Last season, Gustavo Varela made 33 appearances for the Minho club, contributing seven goals and three assists.

His time with Benfica’s first team ended up being brief, with the forward making just one appearance for the Eagles’ senior side in the 2023/24 season. Now at Monza, the striker has already delivered the first major sign of his new chapter, starting his journey in Italy with two goals on his debut.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.