Preview: Sassuolo vs. Monza
Giant-killing Sassuolo host Monza in round seven’s Serie A action to be played at Stadio Citta del Tricolore on Monday.
The Neroverdi’s mixed start has been forgotten after those victories over Juventus and Inter Milan, while the away side seek their second win of the season.
Sassuolo had claimed one victory in four games before facing Juventus in gameweek five, but consecutive wins have catapulted them to ninth in the table.
The Neroverdi defeated the Old Lady 4-2, with Bianconeri goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny blameworthy in a couple of the goals, with Federico Gatti’s comical own goal sealing the victory.
A few days later, the Emilia-Romagna outfit went to San Siro and defeated unblemished Inter Milan 2-1 despite trailing 1-0 at the break.
Alessio Dionisi’s team were beneficiaries of Domenico Berardi’s brilliance in both games, with the winger scoring an outstanding winning goal against the league’s joint leaders in midweek.
Sassuolo have won both games at the Mapei since the 2-0 loss at the hands of Atalanta on August 20, and they seek to claim three straight home victories on the trot on Monday.
They welcome a Monza side that have not had the brightest start to year two in Serie A, claiming one win from six league games and being winless since gameweek two.
Raffaele Palladino’s men have picked up three straight draws, and they seek to go one step further in search of maximum points against their giant-killing hosts.
Goals have been an issue for the Biancorossi, whose four strikes in six matches betters just four clubs in the standings.
Palladino’s troops can take confidence from the results against Sassuolo last season when they secured four points from an available six against the Neroverdi, winning the corresponding fixture 2-1 in May.
The same result will be what the doctor ordered for Monza, whose performances in the opening six gameweeks have underwhelmed.
Sassuolo Serie A form:
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Monza Serie A form:
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We say: Sassuolo 1-1 Monza
Despite recent successes, Sassuolo could come unstuck against Monza, with the visitors securing their fourth straight draw in the league.