15 September 2018
JUVE LOOK TO KEEP THE RUN GOING
La Vecchia Signora have a perfect 100% start to Serie A thus far, with three wins from three. Last time out before the break the Bianconeri won 2-1 at Parma, with World Cup finalists, Mario Mandzukic and Blaise Matuidi scoring the goals.
Juve went ahead in Emilia-Romagna after just two minutes when the ball fell to Mandzukic in the box following a cross and the Croatian turned in from close range. However, Parma pegged the Bianconeri back as Gervinho bundled into the net before the break. In the second half, Juve found themselves back in front when Mandzukic and Matuidi combined brilliantly to tee up the French midfielder to fire Juve into the lead.
There were further chances for the Old Lady to increase her advantage but the visitors made sure they saw out the game to go into the international break perfect.
SASSUOLO STARTING BRIGHT
It’s been a summer of change for Sassuolo, with new coach Roberto De Zerbi replacing Giuseppe Iachini, whilst there have been a number of comings and goings in the transfer window.
Perhaps Sassuolo’s biggest signing was the return to Serie A of Kevin-Prince Boateng. The former Milan midfielder made the move after playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga last term. On the other hand, their highest-profile departures would arguably have been Francesco Acerbi to Lazio and Matteo Politano who joined Inter on loan with an option to buy.
The Neroverdi are the only other side to be unbeaten in Serie A after three matches along with Juve (Fiorentina have also yet to lose but have played a game less). Sassuolo started their campaign at home to Inter, winning 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Domenico Berardi. The following week they drew 2-2 away at Cagliari with Boateng netting a 99th-minute penalty to ensure that they returned home with a point. Then in their last match before the international break, Sassuolo won a 5-3 thriller at the Mapei Stadium against Genoa, despite the away side taking the lead.
WHEN WE LAST MET
Last season, Juventus recorded their joint-biggest home win at the Allianz Stadium after beating Sassuolo 7-0 in February. The Bianconeri went one up after nine minutes through Alex Sandro, then Sami Khedira struck a brace inside three first-half minutes before teeing up Miralem Pjanic to lash home an unstoppable shot to hand Juve a 4-0 lead at the interval.
The second period proved to be the Gonzalo Higuain show as the Argentine scored his first ever Juventus hat-trick inside 20 minutes to claim the match ball at full-time.
#JUVESASSUOLO MATCH STATS
- Juventus have won their last five matches against Sassuolo, scoring 16 goals.
- If the Bianconeri win, they will have won their first four opening games two years running for the first time in their history.
- Sassuolo have only lost once in their last seven Serie A away matches, recording three wins and three draws.
- Juve had the most shots (67) and crosses (76) so far in this campaign.
- Sassuolo have the least shots to goals against ratio in the league after ending last season with the highest.
- Leonardo Bonucci currently has the third-highest pass rate (238) in Serie A.
- Sami Khedira has been involved in more goals against Sassuolo than any other side in Serie A (three goals, two assists).
- Federico Bernardeschi comes into the game with one goal and two assists in his first three matches.
- Alex Sandro has a goal and two assists in his last three Serie A matches vs Sassuolo.
- Massimiliano Allegri has six wins out of nine vs Sassuolo in the league including one draw and two defeats.
