Preview: Sassuolo vs. Spezia – prediction, group information, lineups

After 4 league video games with no win, Sassuolo search some respite within the Coppa Italia on Thursday, as they host Serie B strugglers Spezia on the Mapei Stadium.

The groups convene in Reggio Emilia with a last-16 tie in opposition to Atalanta BC up for grabs, and each will hope to start out November efficiently following a fruitless October.

Match preview

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Whereas their most up-to-date wins got here back-to-back, over Calcio giants Juventus and Inter, a tally of solely two factors from 4 fixtures since has seen Sassuolo slide down the Serie A standings and occupy a spot within the backside half.

Having drawn with Lecce between dwelling defeats to Monza and Lazio, the Neroverdi went into an Emilian derby in opposition to Bologna on the weekend with confidence diminished, and so they fell behind following Joshua Zirkzee‘s very good first contact and end as early because the third minute.

Daniel Boloca struck again simply earlier than the break, although, and Sassuolo in the end settled for a 1-1 draw that sees them sit fifteenth within the desk after 10 rounds of motion.

Head coach Alessio Dionisi will probably be conscious that his group’s defensive deficiencies can not proceed if they’re to problem for a top-half end this time period, and so they have now conceded at the very least one purpose in every of their final 18 league matches.

Forward of their journey to Torino on Monday, they return to a Coppa Italia marketing campaign that began in August with a dramatic 5-2 defeat of Cosenza: after the Neroverdi conceded a last-minute purpose, they then scored 3 times previous 10-man opponents in further time.

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Like Sassuolo, as provincial outsiders, Spezia have by no means earlier than lifted Italy’s nationwide cup, however greater than a deep run within the Coppa their important purpose for this season is bouncing straight again into Serie A on the first try.

Relegated after a tense playoff in opposition to Hellas Verona on the finish of a tricky 2022-23 marketing campaign, the Aquilotti are but to adapt to their environment within the second tier – with only one win to their identify after 10 video games, they’re nearer to the drop zone than the playoff locations.

Three successive attracts in October – two with out scoring – depart Massimiliano Alvini‘s males with loads of work to do in Serie B: having recorded solely eight objectives within the league, Spezia are ruing the departures of M’Bala Nzola and former captain Emmanuel Gyasi, each of whom secured summer time strikes to remain within the prime flight.

The Ligurian membership will meet fellow relegated facet Cremonese – Alvini’s former employers – on the weekend, however first the prospect of cup soccer can maybe launch some stress on an underperforming outfit.

After dropping 5-2 to Atalanta within the Coppa earlier this yr, Spezia can meet the Bergamo facet within the final 16 once more this season by successful on the Mapei Stadium, the place they misplaced 1-0 en path to demotion again in March.

Sassuolo Coppa Italia type:

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Spezia Coppa Italia type:

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Crew Information

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With one eye on an essential sport in opposition to Torino, Sassuolo coach Alessio Dionisi will make some adjustments to his facet in midweek: injury-prone Domenico Berardi – who scored the spot-kick winner when these groups met earlier this yr – is amongst these set to be rested.

Begins might subsequently be handed to fringe gamers comparable to Samuele Mulattieri, back-up goalkeeper Alessio Cragno and Roma loanee Cristian Volpato.

Dionisi will once more be with out Matheus Henrique (hamstring), Pedro Obiang (thigh) and Agustin Alvarez (ACL), however Mattia Viti was again on the bench final weekend following his layoff with an adductor downside.

In the meantime, Spezia’s important health subject regards ex-Sassuolo midfielder Filippo Bandinelli, who has skilled individually with a shoulder damage that pressured him off in Saturday’s Serie B draw with Cosenza.

Extra positively, Daniele Verde and German centre-back Lukas Muhl are near returning and each could also be obtainable to characteristic at some stage.

Presently on mortgage from Thursday’s hosts, Luca Moro is considered one of solely three gamers to have scored greater than as soon as for the Aquilotti this season, so will hope to start out in opposition to his father or mother membership.

Sassuolo potential beginning lineup:
Cragno; Pedersen, Viti, Erlic, Vina; Boloca, Racic; Defrel, Volpato, Castillejo; Mulattieri

Spezia potential beginning lineup:
Dragowski; Amian, Gelashvili, Serpe; Elia, Zurkowski, Esposito, Cassata, Reca; Antonucci, Moro

We are saying: Sassuolo 2-0 Spezia

Given Spezia’s lack of risk within the last third, even a much-changed Sassuolo facet ought to have few issues negotiating their method into the Coppa Italia’s final 16. A number of squad gamers could have some extent to show in entrance of Alessio Dionisi, who additionally has some attention-grabbing choices on the bench.

For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.

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