Sassuolo vs Fiorentina: Serie A Strugglers Face Crucial Reggio Emilia Clash
Sassuolo and Fiorentina meet at the Mapei Stadium with both clubs needing an immediate response in Serie A. Alberto Aquilani’s side are 15th after a damaging run, while Paolo Vanoli’s Fiorentina arrive in 17th place and under pressure to halt their slide towards the relegation places.
Pressure builds in Reggio Emilia
Sassuolo briefly lifted expectations with a victory over Juventus, but that result has not produced sustained momentum. They have collected only one point from their past five league fixtures and were beaten 6-2 by Lazio in their latest midweek outing at home.
Fiorentina’s situation is similarly concerning. They have not won in five Serie A matches and have conceded 11 times during that sequence. Their most recent match brought a 2-2 draw with Atalanta, following a 2-1 defeat to Inter, but Vanoli’s team have otherwise lost three times in that period.
| Club | Serie A position | Last five league matches | Goals scored | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sassuolo | 15th | 0 wins, 1 draw, 4 defeats | 7 | 13 |
| Fiorentina | 17th | 0 wins, 2 draws, 3 defeats | 7 | 11 |
Absences force changes for both managers
Aquilani has a long injury list to manage, while Kristian Thorstvedt cannot play after his red card against Lazio. Sassuolo are also without Ismael Koné, Fedde Leysen, Daniel Boloca, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Yeferson Paz and Jay Idzes.
Fiorentina’s defensive options have been particularly affected. Fabiano Parisi, Riccardo Sottil, Luca Ranieri, Atta and Marin Pongracic are all sidelined, leaving Vanoli to find alternatives at the back.
- Sassuolo’s expected goalkeeper is Turati.
- The likely Sassuolo defence includes Caleta-Car, Odenthal, Cinquegrano and Doig.
- Matic, Bakola and Adzic are expected in midfield, behind Berardi, Esposito and Laurienté.
- De Gea is set to start for Fiorentina, with Jimenez, Dragusin, Viery and Joao Mario in the defensive unit.
- Ndour, Brescianini and Oulai could form Fiorentina’s midfield, with Mastantuono, Pellegrino and Njie leading the attack.
Recent meetings offer little certainty
The sides played out a goalless draw when they last faced each other in Serie A in April 2026. Sassuolo have taken two victories from the last five meetings, compared with one for Fiorentina, while two matches have ended level.
Sassuolo won 3-1 in December 2025, although Fiorentina recorded the standout result in that sequence with a 5-1 success in April 2024. With both teams below their expected level and looking nervously at the clubs beneath them, the meeting in Reggio Emilia offers a valuable chance to ease the strain around the bottom of the standings.
