Preview: Sassuolo vs. Salernitana - prediction, team news, lineups

Sassuolo will be looking to claim their first Serie A victory since the opening day when they host basement club Salernitana at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore on Sunday afternoon.

The two sides have never met in the Italian top flight, but have locked horns in Serie B and the Coppa Italia, with the Neroverdi winning each of the last three encounters.

Match preview

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Sassuolo suffered their third successive league defeat when they were beaten 2-1 away at Atalanta on Tuesday evening.

After Robin Gosens and Davide Zappacosta had given the hosts a two-goal cushion, Domenico Berardi pulled one back on the stroke of half time, however the Neroverdi were unable to find an equaliser.

Sassuolo have accumulated just four points from their opening five Serie A matches and currently sit 14th in the table, 11 places below and seven points fewer than where they were at this stage last season.

Alessio Dionisi will be hoping his side's fortunes can turn around quickly and he will welcome Sunday's fixture against Salernitana, after winning each of their last three meetings against them as well as having an unbeaten record in their last four matches against sides from the Campania region.

The Neroverdi have failed to score in their last two home league games and will be keen to avoid recording a third in succession for the first time since February 2018. However, as this weekend's opponents have already conceded 14 league goals this term, Dionisi's side should be confident of finding the net this time around.

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Salernitana claimed their first Serie A point in 22 years when they played out a 2-2 draw at home against Hellas Verona on Wednesday night.

A brace from Nikola Kalinic gave the visitors a two-goal lead in the first half an hour, however the hosts pulled one back in first-half stoppage time thanks to Cedric Gondo, with that goal giving Fabrizio Castori's side plenty of hope going into the break.

Salernitana pushed for an equaliser and eventually scored in the 76th minute when Mamadou Coulibaly smashed the ball past Lorenzo Montipo from close range.

The Garnets remain at the foot of the table but a convincing victory on Sunday could potentially see them climb out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Castori's men will need to improve defensively if they are to have any chance of securing three points this weekend, having already conceded seven goals in their opening two away matches this campaign.

Salernitana have also conceded 10 goals in their five previous meetings with Sassuolo, although their last encounter against them was back in May 2010.

Team News

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Sassuolo midfielder Pedro Obiang was diagnosed with a heart condition last month so remains unavailable, while Filippo Romagna (knee) and Nicolas Schiappacasse (ligament rupture) are ruled out with injuries.

Centre-back Kaan Ayhan returned to the starting lineup in midweek and is expected to keep his place alongside Gian Marco Ferrari, with Vlad Chiriches set to begin as a substitute once again.

Berardi, who has been involved in seven goals in his last six games against newly-promoted sides in Serie A, will likely continue on the right-wing, with Jeremie Boga set to play on the opposite flank.

As for Salernitana, they will be without Ramzi Aya (muscle fatigue), Matteo Ruggeri (hamstring) and Leonardo Capezzi (knee) due to injury.

Nigerian forward Simy, who scored 20 Serie A goals for Crotone last season, started in midweek and is set to keep his place up front alongside Gondo.

Veteran Franck Ribery is also expected to start again in the number 10 role, while central defenders Norbert Gyomber, Stefan Strandberg and Riccardo Gagliolo will likely remain in the back three.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Consigli; Toljan, Ayhan, Ferrari, Kyriakopoulos; Magnanelli, Frattesi; Berardi, Traore, Boga; Defrel

Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Belec; Gyomber, Strandberg, Gagliolo; Kechrida, M. Coulibaly, L. Coulibaly, Ranieri; Ribery; Gondo, Simy

We say: Sassuolo 3-1 Salernitana

Sassuolo may have struggled in recent weeks, but as Sunday's favourites they are expected to claim all three points on home soil.

Salernitana will be looking to take advantage of the Neroverdi's poor run of form, however their defensive frailties could once again cost them on the road against one of the league's most attacking outfits.