Sassuolo will endeavour to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2020-21 Serie A season when they welcome newly-promoted Crotone to the Mapei Stadium for Saturday's showdown.
In contrast, Crotone are yet to get up and running in the top flight having lost to Genoa and AC Milan thus far.
Match preview
© Reuters
Sassuolo would have been disappointed to walk away from their encounter with Cagliari with only one point to show for their efforts rather than three, but Roberto De Zerbi's men eased to their first victory of the season over Spezia in gameweek two.
Each member of Sassuolo's attacking quartet found the back of the net against Spezia, with Domenico Berardi, Gregoire Defrel, Filip Djuricic and Francesco Caputo all opening their accounts for the campaign.
The Neroverdi were the surprise package of last season and will no doubt want to push for a European berth this time around, but De Zerbi's men finished 11 points worse off than seventh-placed Napoli, so it would take something truly remarkable indeed for Sassuolo to clinch Europa League qualification.
However, the Neroverdi have been handed two fixtures in a row against newly-promoted sides in a relatively friendly start to their season, and Sassuolo will certainly be expected to take the spoils against a Crotone team still searching for their first points since being welcomed back to the big time.
Indeed, last season's Serie B runners up have been given a reality check after returning to the top flight after a two-year absence - being thrashed by Genoa before losing to AC Milan in their most recent fixture.
Franck Kessie and Brahim Diaz both netted to subject Crotone to their second loss in as many matches, and Giovanni Stroppa's men also have a daunting fixture with champions Juventus to contend with following the international break.
Crotone are one of five sides to have lost both of their opening fixtures, but owing to their goal difference of -5 - the joint worst in the league - Gli Squali already occupy a spot in the bottom three.
While the newly-promoted outfit still have the entire season ahead of them to turn things around, Crotone will no doubt become favourites for the drop should results not improve over the next couple of months.
However, Crotone did subject Sassuolo to a 4-1 drubbing in the 2017-18 Serie A season, although the Neroverdi took the spoils in a 2-1 victory when the sides last met at the Mapei Stadium.
Sassuolo Serie A form: DW
Crotone Serie A form: LL
Team News
© Reuters
Having had a week off to recuperate from their impressive win over Spezia, Sassuolo could name the same starting lineup from that victory in the second weekend of the season, although Pedro Obiang is at risk of losing his place in midfield to Mehdi Bourabia.
De Zerbi's men will continue to make do without Rogerio, Francesco Magnanelli and Giacomo Raspadori, who all undertook individual training sessions in midweek.
Jeremie Boga contracted coronavirus back in August and is reportedly still positive over a month later, so the former Chelsea man will continue to watch from home.
As for the visitors, centre-backs Giuseppe Cuomo and Guillame Gigliotti are expected back next month from strain injuries, while Ahmad Benali is not too far away from a return to action.
Stroppa may look to shuffle the pack as Crotone look to avoid a third defeat in a row, which could see Eduardo Henrique handed a start in the middle of the park.
Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Chiriches, Ferrari, Kyriakopoulos; Locatelli, Bourabia; Berardi, Defrel, Djuricic; Caputo
Crotone possible starting lineup:
Cordaz; Magallan, Golemic, Marrone; Pereira, Henrique, Cigarini, Zanellato, Reca; Simy, Dragus
We say: Sassuolo 2-0 Crotone
Sassuolo attacking contingent have a taste for goals and will be excited at the prospect of another game against a newly-promoted side. Crotone have offered little going forward and have already shipped six goals from two matches, so we cannot see another result than a straightforward victory for the hosts.
