Sassuolo vs. Udinese, an important match

Only one win in the last ten for Sassuolo means they must win this relgation six-pointer against Udinese to try to move up from second-bottom. All the more important because after today's match, the Neroverdi will face Salernitana and Lecce (with a fixture against AC Milan in-between). Udinese are four points further ahead and want to quickly move on from the defeat to Torino, and above all do not want to be clawed back by a relegation rival.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sassuolo have suffered 18 losses in 29 matches in Serie A this season (W6 D5): only once previously have the Neroverdi had more defeats in a single top-flight tournament (22 in 2013/14 – in their competition debut – finishing in 17th place). Udinese are the team with the highest percentage of goals scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half in Serie A this season (32%, 9/28); while three of last five goals conceded by Sassuolo in the competition came in this part of the match.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Sassuolo are winless in their last 11 games against Udinese in Serie A (D6 L5): their last victory against the Friulani in the competition was on 17th March 2018 (2-1 in Friuli). Furthermore, the Neroverdi are the team against whom Udinese Have their longest current unbeaten streak in the tournament (11 indeed). After having drawn their last two matches in Serie A, Sassuolo and Udinese could draw three games in a row for the first time in the competition (two ones in a row also in 2018/19 and 2015/16 campaigns). Sassuolo have won only one of their 10 home matches played against Udinese in Serie A (1-0, 25th September 2016) – drawing five and losing four of these, including the last one (1-3, 11th September 2022). The Friulani could win two away games in a row against the Neroverdi for the first time in the competition.

PLAYERS

Only against Roma (five) has Andrea Pinamonti scored more goals than against Udinese in Serie A (three). Furthermore, the Neroverde forward has nine goals in 29 matches so far in the current tournament and could become the first Italian player born from 1999 onwards able to reach at least 10 goals in two different Serie A campaigns (13 also with Empoli in 2021/22). Florian Thauvin has been involved in two goals in his last three appearances in Serie A (assist v Salernitana and Lazio); the Frenchman has created 18 chances ending carries, only fewer than Matías Soulé (21), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (20) and Matteo Politano (19) among the strikers in Serie A this term.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: Erlic (Sassuolo) Cautioned: Pedersen (Sassuolo); Thauvin, Success, Lucca, Ferreira, Giannetti (Udinese)

REFEREE

Fabbri (Del Giovane – Mokhtar) IV: Cosso, VAR: Abisso, AVAR: Di Bello

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A TIM

Salernitana-Sassuolo (Friday 5 April, 20:45 CET) Udinese-Inter (Monday 8 April, ore 20:45 CET) (Photo Getty Images)