Na Mapei Stadium for Reggio Emilia go host Sassuolo and Torino this Saturday for Italian Serie A action, and both teams dey carry one opening defeat into this match. The game wey dey scheduled for afternoon go be chance for two sides wey don start the season with losses to find their rhythm.
Sassuolo don come from a 2-1 defeat for away at Atalanta. The home side score for early six minute, but Cas Odenthal equalize for 55th minute. However, Atalanta no waste time — dem add another goal just 10 minutes later, and Sassuolo go back home with nothing. Even though dem lose, Sassuolo create plenty chances with 2.73 expected goals against Atalanta’s 0.71, but football na scoring wey dey count.
Torino, on the other hand, also lose 2-1 for their own home to AC Milan. First half na goalless affair, but Milan score two goals for second half before Che Adams pull one back for the 93rd minute. Too late to save the game. Torino get 1.01 expected goals and 41% possession, and dem go now travel to Reggio Emilia with determination to fix things.
When you look at history, Torino don get upper hand for recent meetings. Dem don beat Sassuolo for the last two times, including a 1-0 win for Mapei and a 2-1 win for Turin. For the last 10 matches between the two sides, Torino win five, Sassuolo win one, and four end as draw. So the odds makers dey see Sassuolo as slight favourites this time, with odds like +123 for home win.
For team news, Sassuolo go likely line up with Arijanet Muric for goal, Jay Idzes and Fedde Leysen for defence, and Andrea Pinamonti wey be their top scorer with three goals. Armand Lauriente don also score two and don provide two assists. For Torino, Giovanni Simeone be the main man with four goals, and Che Adams get three. The away side go also count on Cesare Casadei and Nikola Vlasic, each with two goals.
Analysts dey suggest say the correct score fit be 1-0 to Sassuolo, and wey fit follow the pattern of tight games between these teams. But anything fit happen for football, especially when both teams dey desperate for first win of the season.
