Sassuolo-Spezia is a Serie A Week 27 match and will be played on Friday at 18:30: odds, predictions, TV and streaming.
Sassuolo are trying to make sense of their so far anonymous championship, and the goal now is to leave the so-called ‘middle ground’, where they have been mired for practically the entire tournament.
The neroverdi have rediscovered certainties also thanks to the return of some key players, one above all captain Berardi, and consequently the goals are also arriving, an “ingredient” that had never been missing in the recipes of a coach with distinctly offensive ideas like Alessio Dionisi. The classification says that the Emiliani are thirteenth with 33 points: the Europa zone is perhaps too far away, but the fight for salvation, on balance, should no longer concern them. In the match against Spezia, they will be looking for their fourth consecutive victory: after the ones against Lecce and Cremonese, Sassuolo defeated Roma (3-4) at the Stadio Olimpico, who were liquidated with more or less the same treatment they gave AC Milan a month and a half ago at the San Siro (2-5). The success against José Mourinho’s team is the seventh positive result in the last eight league matches. Since mid-January, in short, Sassuolo’s season has turned around.
Salvation is closer for Spezia
Spezia, who visit the Mapei Stadium in one of the two early stages of matchday 27, are also fresh from a prestigious victory. The Ligurians did it even bigger, tripping second-placed Inter 2-1 at the Picco.
Nzola
The Nerazzurri wasted a lot, they probably would have deserved more, but the cynicism of Leonardo Semplici’s team prevailed. The new coach, who took over from Luca Gotti a few weeks ago, has touched the right keys and in the last three games Spezia have brought home five vital points, again widening the gap with third-last Verona, who are now -5. There is something mystical in the goal of the lead scored by the son of art Daniel Maldini, but in the match with Inzaghi’s team Lady Luck was on their side, as the missed penalty by Lautaro also shows.
Sassuolo-Spezia: the latest line-up news
Dionisi must do without Tressoldi, disqualified, in the centre of defence: the Brazilian will be replaced by ex-Spezia man Erlic. On the flanks there will be space for Toljan and Rogerio, while the midfield will be formed by Frattesi, Maxime Lopez and Matheus Henrique. In front, the Laurienté-Pinamonti-Berardi trio will be reunited: eyes will be on the Frenchman, who has been the best in Sassuolo’s recent matches.
Semplici will not have Holm, Reca and Bastoni at his disposal but plans to confirm the 4-3-3 with Shomurodov in the offensive trident along with Nzola and Gyasi. In this case Verde will start from the bench. Former viola player Zurkowski could be back in the middle.
The prediction
Sassuolo have never lost in their five previous matches against Spezia in the top flight, and are slight favourites this time around against a team that struggles away from home and scores few goals (second worst away attack). The last matches between the two teams tell us that both have always scored, and taking into account the guests’ urgency to score, the ‘goal’ sign could come out in the Mapei match, which promises to be more prolific in the second half. Spezia is in fact the team that has conceded the most goals in the second half of the game.
The likely line-up for Sassuolo v Spezia
- SASSUOLO (4-3-3): Consigli; Toljan, Erlic, Ferrari, Rogério; Frattesi, Maxime Lopez, Matheus Henrique; Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté.
- SPEZIA (4-3-3): Dragowski; Amian, Caldara, Ampadu, Nikolaou; Zurkowski, Bourabia, Agudelo; Gyasi, Nzola, Shomurodov.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
