Two teams approaching this game with very different confidence. Sassuolo can go top of the league if they win tonight, as they had their best ever start with 10 points in the first four games.
In each of the last three games, they have scored four goals, becoming the first side to do so since Juventus in 1950.
Torino show up having lost all three games (the other one was postponed), for the first time since 2002-03. They are the only team without a point in Serie A.
Torino are the side Sassuolo has drawn the most games with at home (five times in seven appearances).
Edoardo Stella will be taking you through the action as it happens.
(Sources: Opta)
What to watch for: Belotti and Caputo are top Serie A goalscorers with four goals apiece, as the Sassuolo striker is the player to have the most goal contributions post lockdown (16).
Berardi is the second Italian with most goal contributions, just behind his teammate. He got eight goals and six assists since June.
Line-ups:
Sassuolo team news: It’s a debut start for Kaan Ayhan and Maxime Lopez, as Giacomo Raspadori also makes his first start of the season.
Torino team news: Few changes for Marco Giampaolo, as Simone Verdi replaces Federico Bonazzoli, with the rest of the team being the same as in the home defeat with Cagliari.
2’ Very foggy conditions, you can hardly see the further side of the pitch.
4’ First occasion of the game, as Filip Djuricic is closed on corner. Fortunately it’s on the foggy-free left side for Sassuolo, but Gian Marco Ferrari hits it over the bar.
9’ Incredible chance for Simone Verdi. Tremendous run from Sasa Lukic, but crucially it’s a mistake by Lopez who, after intercepting the pass, gives the ball to Verdi. The striker cannot finish the 1vs1 against Andrea Consigli.
13’ Very good initiative by Raspadori, as the youngster is fouled by Bremer just on the edge of the box. Berardi is on the ball, but right-footed Ayhan is also a specialist, having scored a few in the Bundesliga.
15’ It’s indeed Ayhan who takes it, but the wall denies his effort.
18’ Another miracle from Consigli. The fog hampers the view, but you could clearly hear his gloves fending off Meite’s effort within the box.
20’ Although Sassuolo have dominated possession, it’s Torino who have had the most chances. They really should be ahead… No chance, still for the Gallo Belotti, who has scored all four of Torino’s goals this campaign…
25’ We are more than a quarter into the game and yet no goals at the Mapei Stadium. Past meetings suggest there could be goals for grabs tonight, as all of the last five matches between the sides have seen both teams ending on the scoresheet.
26’ Great effort from Domenico Berardi, who shoots from outside the box, but Salvatore Sirigu confidently rebounds it off, as Mergim Vojvoda is given a yellow card for a previous challenge on Filip Djuricic. It was a really nasty foul from the Kosovar.
29’ Berardi and Djuricic show what they are capable of. Quick succession of passes leads to Bremer clearing the subsequent cross from the Italian winger.
33’ LINETTY! It’s the first goal in the Granata shirt for the Polish! Precise cross from Vojvoda, who meets Karol Linetty. The midfielder puts it down and scores with a precise effort. 0-1!
36’ It will be interesting to see Sassuolo’s reaction. The Neroverdi have looked dangerous, but only had one occasion so far. They have scored in all games this campaign, as Torino had no clean sheets, so beware from counting the hosts out.
43’ Frustrating night for Francesco Caputo, who can’t find a way through. Much of Sassuolo’s game tonight has involved the three attacking midfielders, with the joint topscorer not being very involved.
45’ Another dangerous free kick for Sassuolo. Meite commits the foul just on the edge of the box. It’s a central position this time.
Manuel Locatelli and Domenico Berardi on the ball, as this is set to be the last kick of the first half.
45’ It’s the wall again, blocking Locatelli and allowing Torino to have a crucial 1-0 away lead!
What can we expect from the restart? It’s considerable knowing that nine of Sassuolo’s 13 goals have come in the last 30’, which means Sassuolo will surely give their all to attempt a come-back.
Can we see Jeremie Boga for the first time this season? The winger has missed the first game due to positivity to Coronavirus.
Torino desperately need to come away from this game with at least a point. Four straight defeats could cost Giampaolo dearly, as Torino are the only pointless side in the Serie A.
46’ The 68.9% possession of the first-half is something Sassuolo can start with to build the foundations for their come-back.
51‘ Crucial block from Vojvoda in front of the goal to deny Vlad Chiriches. The fog really makes it hard to see, but the Romanian defender fails to score an open goal, with the Kosovar intervening instead of Sirigu. The goalkeeper’s missed catch of a free kick had lead to Sassuolo having their biggest chance of the night.
54‘ Belotti comes really close to scoring his ninth goal against Sassuolo. The striker heads goalwards, but Consigli denies him once again. The Neroverdi are the side the Gallo has scored most goals against.
56‘ Consigli is putting on a show tonight! Verdi is again 1vs1 against the goalkeeper, as a smart pass from Belotti presented him with a chance to shoot. Great save by Consigli.
57‘ Again, what a save from Consigli! This time it’s Belotti’s effort from the corner to be tipped over the bar.
59‘ Beautiful bit of play from Sassuolo. In their hardest moment of the game, Djuricic steps up. He starts the chance and is also on the end of it, but his shot is deflected wide.
Finally, Boga gets the chance to play, Will he show his class straight away?
61‘ Torino also change Wilfried Singo for Mergim Vojvoda.
63‘ Djuricic has been the best man for Sassuolo. He has another attempt, but Sirigu confidently lays down to deny his long shot.
66‘ Very unpredictable and active second half, as both teams had several chances to score a goal
69‘ Other mistake by Sirigu, who comes out for a high ball but doesn’t catch it. Surprisingly, Boga’s header does not find the open net from the far post.
70‘ WHAT A GOAL! DJURICIC! Tremendous bit of play for Sassuolo. Berardi serves Muldur, whose low cross seems easy for Sirigu, but the number 10 comes in and nutmegs him with a cheeky back-heel. 1-1!
71‘ Djuricic is a man on a mission. It’s his third goal of the season already, as the player really seems to have found himself with Sassuolo. Before joining the Neroverdi in 2018, he had only scored two goals in the previous five (!) seasons.
Embed from Getty Images76‘ This will be the sixth meeting in a row between Sassuolo and Torino where both teams score a goal.
77‘ GOAL! BELOTTI! Very strong challenge from the Gallo, who resists Chiriches, dribbles Ferrari and puts the Granata up again. 1-2!
80‘ GOAL! LUKIC! Torino get such a crucial two goal lead, as Belotti finds Lukic, whose shot on the far post gets in the back of the net. 1-3, just as Sassuolo were finding their way back!
83‘ DID SOMEONE SAY THERE WAS A GOOD GOAL? Vlad Chiriches’s incredible strike goes top bins from 25 yards out. What a show we are having in these last minutes. Are we in for another turnaround? It’s 2-3!
85‘ CAPUTO DOESN’T MISS! WOW. It’s 3-3, as Caputo ties Belotti with five goals. The Berardi-Caputo combination is unbeatable, with the winger executing the perfect cross for the striker’s head. What a game.
But there is a suspected and long Var check…
89‘ After a four minute suspension, there is still some time to play. Sassuolo can be on their way to scoring four goals for the fourth successive match.
Can they emulate the 1-3 to 4-3 comeback they did last Sunday in the derby with Bologna?
90‘ It is a whopping seven minutes of additional time.
93‘ Belotti is trying his best to win the game. The Torino skipper is quite literally carrying the team on his shoulders.
95‘ Just about two minutes to play. After watching four goals in eight minutes, are we in for some late drama?
FULL TIME. SASSUOLO 3 – 3 TORINO
We promised you goals.
We promised you a head-to-head between Caputo and Belotti.
We promised you magic from Sassuolo’s diamond of Caputo, Berardi and Djuricic.
Surely this game has been worth following.
Sassuolo have scored 15 goals in their last four games, but this time they are stopped by Torino, which finally get their first points of the season.
The Neroverdi gain a point, but remain in second place, close behind AC Milan, having won three games and drawn two thus far.
Torino remain last, but score a point. Marco Giampaolo’s last adventure with Milan lasted seven games, is this one with Torino already over after four?
Wasting a 3-1 lead with 10 minutes to go will not make president Urbano Cairo very happy…
