Sassuolo – Lazio

Sassuolo will earn their first points after returning to Serie A

Sassuolo's return to Serie A is not going well. The match against Napoli was the opening game of the season for the "Neroverdi." Fabio Grosso's side conceded in the 17th minute and did so again in the second half. While the team fought back, they couldn’t offer much against the reigning champions of Italy. In the second round, they faced a different calibre of opponent – former Serie B neighbour Cremonese. The teams played evenly until Sassuolo's meltdown towards the end of the first half. As a result, the "Grigiorossi" went into the break with a two-goal advantage. Pinamonti and Berardi threw themselves into correcting the situation. The goals from the experienced players reignited the intrigue in the game, but it didn’t last long. Towards the end of the match, De Luca's decisive penalty deprived Sassuolo of their first points in the league since their return. Recently, the club strengthened with Walid Cheddira and Voyo Koulibaly. It is clear that the "Neroverdi" have a squad that is far from the level of the lower part of the table. The only question is when it will start to yield results. Lazio fully redeemed themselves for their defeat in the first round. The "Eagles" played their opening match against Como. On the pitch at "Giuseppe Sinigaglia," as the result showed, there was only one team. Goals from Duvikas and Nico Pas brought a confident and well-deserved 2:0 victory for Cesc Fabregas’s team. Maurizio Sarri was quite verbose in his post-match comments. In their last match, the "Biancocelesti" faced Verona. By the end of the first half, the Romans were ahead 3:0, with goals from Gendzuai, Zaccheroni, and Castellanos. The "Eagles" did not slow down in the second half, but this led to only one goal. Yes, the result was completely different, but the opponent was of an entirely different level. A disassembled Verona could hardly pose a threat in this match. It is currently very difficult to draw any conclusions about Lazio. Maurizio Sarri will face certain personnel issues. Lazzari and Marusic have picked up injuries, while Hysaj and Tavares are delayed with their national teams. The injury problems in the defensive line complicate the team’s preparations for the match. As is often the case with teams that have many "internationals". There is also an interesting situation for the Romans regarding the dissatisfaction of some players. As Il Massaggero reports, Hila and Romagnoli are unhappy that their contracts have not been renewed. The last meeting between the opponents was in late May 2024. At the "Olimpico," in a completely equal game, a 1:1 draw was played. The "Neroverdi" have always been known for their excellent performances against teams from the upper part of the table. Will this work to their advantage now? It’s about time Sassuolo earned their first points since their return.