Serie A title hopefuls Milan continue their league campaign with a tough trip to Mapei Stadium to face Sassuolo after the international break. Sunday’s race in Emilia-Romagna has every chance of revenge for the visitors looking to build momentum in the Scudetto race.
Sassuolo have collected seven points from their first five league games, winning twice and drawing once. However, their attacking approach has led to some unexpected encounters, with both teams scoring in all five matches. After beating Juventus and Torino at home, the Neroverdi have every reason to fancy their chances against another Italian heavyweight.
Milan, meanwhile, have yet to taste defeat under Ruben Amorim, with three wins and two draws in Serie A. The Rossoneri endured a frustrating spell before the international break, but a convincing 3-0 win over Lecce offered encouraging signs of improvement.
However, Sassuolo proved particularly strong at home. With both sides having plenty of attacking quality, Sunday’s clash could make for another entertaining spectacle for the neutrals.
Match preview
Sassuolo
Sassuolo quickly established themselves as a tough proposition under Aquilani, whose attacking philosophy helped them punch above their weight. Despite picking up just seven points in their first five league games, wins over Juventus and Torino demonstrated Sassuolo’s ability to trouble more established opponents.
The Neroverdi have been particularly impressive at the Mapei Stadium, winning eight of their last 11 home league games. They have also scored at least twice in each of their previous six home league games, suggesting Milan’s defense could face a stern test on Sunday.
The latest date offers more incentives for homeowners. Sassuolo have avoided defeat in their last three meetings with Milan in Serie A, recording one win and two draws. They also won 2-0 in last season’s corresponding fixture, giving Aquilani’s men a timely reminder that the Rossoneri are far from invincible.
Still, Sassuolo must strengthen their defense if they hope to extend this run. Their tendency to leave space at the back has contributed to high-scoring matches, and Milan have enough clinical finishers to punish any lapses in concentration.
Milan
Amorim’s side, Milan, have started the season strongly, going unbeaten in their first five Serie A games. While back-to-back draws exposed some shortcomings, their 3-0 demolition of Lecce before the international break restored confidence and gave them a glimpse of their attacking potential.
The Rossoneri have also shown impressive efficiency in front of goal, converting a league-high 15.6% of their attempts before this round. They may not always be able to beat their opponents with the volume of their shots, but their ability to calculate their chances could be decisive against Sassuolo.
Their away record is even more encouraging. Milan have lost just once in their last six matches away from the San Siro in Serie A (3G, 2D). That defeat, however, came against Sassuolo in May, meaning Amorim’s men will have to beat an opponent who has enjoyed the upper hand of late.
One particularly promising trend is Milan’s strong finishing ability. They entered matchday with the best second-half record in Serie A, with five of their away league goals this season coming between the 61st and 75th minutes.
Team News
Sassuolo could be without three key players, with Jay Idzes, Arijanet Muric and Sebastian Walukiewicz unlikely to feature. Vasilije Adzic will have to follow after scoring in each of the Neroverdi’s previous three matches, while Domenico Berardi and Armand Lauriente should provide plenty of attacking threats.
Milan will be missing out on Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Saelemaekers, leaving Amorim to decide on the wings. Davide Bartesaghi could start at left-back, while Strahinja Pavlovic should keep his place in central defense. Christian Pulisic and Diego Moreira will support the attack, while Goncalo Ramos will lead the line.
Sassuolo – Milan Potential Starting Presentations
Sassuolo (4-3-3): Turati; Cinquegrano, Caleta-Car, Leysen, Doig; Adzic, Matic, Torstvedt; Berardi, Esposito, Lauriente.
Milan (3-4-2-1): cousins; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic; Bartesaghi, Modric, Rabiot, Chukwueze; Moreira, Pulisic; Ramos.
Sassuolo – Milan
Sassuolo’s impressive home form and recent record against Milan make this a potentially difficult task for Amorim’s men. The Rossoneri showed more clinical effectiveness and had enough attacking quality to exploit the hosts’ defensive weaknesses.
If Milan are going to compete with Roma and Inter for the title, they cannot afford to drop points here.
Prediction: Milan will win
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