Sassuolo – Lazio

Should we expect both teams to score?

Sassuolo have suffered defeat for the second round in a row. Last Saturday, the Neroverdi faced Como at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia. The hosts began putting pressure on Turati’s goal from the opening minutes. The Sassuolo goalkeeper, however, coped with the Biancoblu’s pressure until the start of the second half. Thus, in the 49th minute, Douvikas put his team ahead. The Fabregas side’s goalscorer needed another ten minutes to complete his brace. Neither team scored again. Sassuolo’s defeat in the previous round was more high-scoring. Alberto Aquilani’s side lost 4–2 away to Frosinone. Lazio have won four rounds in a row. In the previous round, the Romans hosted Parma. The first dangerous chance was created by the Crusaders, but Mandas saved his team. The Eagles’ goalkeeper had to intervene several times during the first half, but the situation changed after the break. By the 58th minute, Gattuso’s side were two goals ahead and comfortably seeing out the match. Parma scored a consolation goal in the 90+5th minute, but it no longer changed anything. The Romans are significantly underperforming according to the xGA metric. Statistically, the Biancocelesti should have conceded 5.52 more goals than they have. Sassuolo, it should be noted, have produced excellent results at the Città del Tricolore. The Neroverdi have already hosted Milan, Juventus and Torino, collecting seven points from those matches. Notably, both teams have scored in each of those games. The sides last met in March of this year. At the Olimpico, both teams exchanged goals in the first half, with the hosts ultimately securing victory. Both teams have clearly defined problems. Sassuolo defend unconvincingly and, as a result, concede far too many goals. In eight matches, Aquilani’s side have conceded 16 goals. Venezia, who sit at the bottom of the table, have conceded exactly the same number. Gattuso’s side are inconsistent: the Eagles can produce an excellent half and then completely collapse in the next. The Neroverdi are extremely eager to make up for their recent setbacks. The team can certainly punish the Romans for the slightest mistake. But will Aquilani’s side themselves be able to keep a clean sheet? Unlikely.