Milan Djuric scored a crucial header to help Monza secure a 1-1 draw against Torino, as both teams continued to grapple with disappointing form.
Entering the match, both sides were desperate for a turnaround, having suffered three consecutive defeats. Monza were without key players Matteo Pessina, Stefano Sensi, Patrick Ciurria, Roberto Gagliardini, and Alessio Cragno, while Torino missed Duvan Zapata, Perr Schuurs, and Zanos Savva. The atmosphere was tense, with Torino ultras remaining silent for the first half in protest against the club’s management.
The game began with an early chance for Daniel Maldini, who nearly scored within the first two minutes after breaking through the offside trap and testing Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in a one-on-one situation. At the other end, Pablo Mari made a vital goal-line clearance to deny a header from Saul Coco during a corner.
Torino finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when Adam Masina scored from a corner delivered by Valentin Lazaro. Masina’s header glanced into the far top corner, marking his first Serie A goal since May 2023.
However, Monza quickly responded with an equalizer just moments later. Djuric capitalized on another corner from Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, nodding in to level the score at 1-1.
Torino pressed for a second goal, with Gvidas Gineitis seeing his close-range effort parried away by Monza goalkeeper Stefano Turati. Sebastian Walukiewicz’s follow-up was deflected just off target by a desperate Pablo Mari. Samuele Ricci and Alieu Njie also tested Turati from distance but could not find the back of the net.
Goals: Masina 59 (T), Djuric 63 (M)
Torino (3-5-2): Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz, Coco, Masina; Pedersen, Gineitis, Ricci, Vlasic (71′ Nije), Lazaro (71′ Vojvoda); Adams, Sanabria. All. Vanol
Monza (3-4-2-1): Turati; Izzo, P. Marì, Carboni A.; Pereira, Bondo, Bianco, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini (68′ Vignato), Mota (87′ Caprari); Djuric. All. Nesta.
