On Sunday, 14th April, within the framework of the 32nd round of the Italian Serie A, Sassuolo will host AC Milan. After losing 0:1 to Roma in the first quarter-final match of the Europa League last Thursday, the Rossoneri still cannot afford to drop points. The host team is in danger of relegation.
Sassuolo is in real danger with only seven rounds left in the current campaign. The team is placed in 19th and second to last position in Serie A, two points shy of the salvaging 17th place.
Over the last 12 matches, the Neroverdi won only against the sinking Frosinone (1:0), drew thrice and suffered eight defeats. The hosts share the points with Udinese (1:1) and Salernitana (2:2) last weekend - two other contenders for keeping their elite tier status. The good news: Having scored in each of the last ten home games of Serie A, Emilians can now repeat their club record by finding the net this weekend.
However, Sassuolo is only in 17th place in the overall standings in terms of points earned at home: a total of 16 in 15 matches. The team remains without two key players due to injury, Italy's Domenico Berardi (9 goals and 3 assists), whose season has already ended, and defender Pedersen. Playmaker Djuricic and winger Boga, both of whom scored in the past round, should return to the starting lineup, while in the attack center we will surely see Raspadori (9 goals).
Although AC Milan was eliminated from the Scudetto race early this season, the club has securely established itself in 2nd place in the Serie A table, with a 13-point lead over fifth placed Roma. Therefore, few doubt that the guests will get into the Champions League, as they have shown excellent results in recent weeks. So, the Rossoneri have won their last 5 matches in the championship - against Lazio (0:1), Empoli (1:0), Hellas Verona (1:3), Fiorentina (1:2), and Spezia last weekend (3:0). As a result, AC Milan earned 68 points, which is one point more than at the same stage of the campaign two years ago, when they eventually won the Scudetto. However, Stefano Pioli's men unexpectedly lost at home to Roma in the first match of the Europa League quarterfinals – Mancini's goal in the first half decided everything. It is important to note that the visitors are the second Serie A team in terms of points earned on the road: 33 in 16 away matches with 34 goals scored and 26 conceded. AC Milan's defence is weakened by the injury of France's Kalulu, and rarely used midfielder Pobega is unavailable. The return of playmaker Loftus-Cheek (6 goals) from suspension is a positive news. Ibrahimovic (13 goals and 8 assists) can get a rest before the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals. So, this might open an opportunity for the likes of Kalulu, Hernandez and Rebic to get some playing time, while Adli will replace Bennacer in the center of the pitch.
In the first leg, Sassuolo lost 1:0 to AC Milan, but in their five previous meetings, the Rossoneri have only managed to come out on top once.
Sassuolo is in a deep crisis, albeit motivated to fight for survival in Serie A. Meanwhile, AC Milan, who are virtually guaranteed Champions League qualification, will probably make significant rotation in view of the upcoming return leg of the Europa League quarterfinals. My prediction is: Sassuolo +1 advantage on the Asian Handicap.
# | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | G | PTS | |
1 | Napoli | 24 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 39:17 | 55 | |
2 | Inter | 24 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 58:23 | 54 | |
3 | Atalanta | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 54:26 | 50 | |
4 | Lazio | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 45:32 | 45 | |
5 | Juventus | 24 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 20 | 41:21 | 43 | |
6 | Fiorentina | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 41:25 | 42 | |
7 | Bologna | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 38:29 | 41 | |
8 | AC Milan | 23 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 35:24 | 38 | |
9 | AS Roma | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 35:29 | 34 | |
10 | Udinese | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | -8 | 29:37 | 30 | |
11 | Torino | 25 | 6 | 10 | 9 | -4 | 27:31 | 28 | |
12 | Genoa | 24 | 6 | 9 | 9 | -11 | 22:33 | 27 | |
13 | Cagliari | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -13 | 26:39 | 24 | |
14 | Lecce | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -23 | 18:41 | 24 | |
15 | Verona | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | -27 | 26:53 | 23 | |
16 | Como | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | -12 | 28:40 | 22 | |
17 | Empoli | 24 | 4 | 9 | 11 | -13 | 22:35 | 21 | |
18 | Parma | 24 | 4 | 8 | 12 | -14 | 30:44 | 20 | |
19 | Venezia | 24 | 3 | 7 | 14 | -17 | 22:39 | 16 | |
20 | Monza | 24 | 2 | 7 | 15 | -18 | 21:39 | 13 | |
1 | Napoli | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18:8 | 28 | |
2 | Inter | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 28:14 | 27 | |
3 | Lazio | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25:17 | 24 | |
4 | Fiorentina | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 22:13 | 24 | |
5 | Atalanta | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 29:16 | 23 | |
6 | Bologna | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20:11 | 23 | |
7 | Juventus | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21:10 | 22 | |
8 | AS Roma | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 24:12 | 22 | |
9 | AC Milan | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 19:9 | 21 | |
10 | Udinese | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 15:17 | 17 | |
11 | Cagliari | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 15:22 | 15 | |
12 | Como | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 19:20 | 15 | |
13 | Torino | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 10:11 | 14 | |
14 | Lecce | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9:21 | 14 | |
15 | Genoa | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 12:16 | 12 | |
16 | Parma | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 18:22 | 12 | |
17 | Venezia | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12:15 | 12 | |
18 | Verona | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 11:30 | 10 | |
19 | Empoli | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5:14 | 8 | |
20 | Monza | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 10:17 | 6 | |
1 | Napoli | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21:9 | 27 | |
2 | Inter | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 30:9 | 27 | |
3 | Atalanta | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25:10 | 27 | |
4 | Lazio | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20:15 | 21 | |
5 | Juventus | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 20:11 | 21 | |
6 | Fiorentina | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 19:12 | 18 | |
7 | Bologna | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 18:18 | 18 | |
8 | AC Milan | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16:15 | 17 | |
9 | Genoa | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 10:17 | 15 | |
10 | Torino | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 17:20 | 14 | |
11 | Udinese | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 14:20 | 13 | |
12 | Verona | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 15:23 | 13 | |
13 | Empoli | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 17:21 | 13 | |
14 | AS Roma | 12 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 11:17 | 12 | |
15 | Lecce | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 9:20 | 10 | |
16 | Cagliari | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 11:17 | 9 | |
17 | Parma | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 12:22 | 8 | |
18 | Como | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 9:20 | 7 | |
19 | Monza | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 11:22 | 7 | |
20 | Venezia | 12 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 10:24 | 4 |
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