Sassuolo vs. Fiorentina: Team News, Predictions and Predicted Lineups

Winless after 13 matches, Fiorentina travel to the Mapei Stadium on Saturday to face a mid-table Sassuolo, desperate to end their miserable start to the Serie A season. The Viola’s 23-year tenure in the top flight is under serious threat, as no team in league history has ever avoided relegation from this position.

Sassuolo head into the fixture after a 2-0 loss to Como, which ended a two-match unbeaten streak. Under manager Fabio Grosso, the Neroverdi have made a solid return to Italy’s top tier, sitting a comfortable 10 points clear of the relegation zone. However, their ambition of securing a European spot, currently seven points away, will depend on improving their inconsistent home form, where they have earned just seven of their 17 points and are without a win in their last three games.

Facing the league’s joint-worst team presents an ideal opportunity for Sassuolo to reverse that trend. Fiorentina’s struggles were compounded by a 2-0 defeat to Atalanta last weekend, their seventh loss of the campaign. Striker Moise Kean hit the woodwork for a league-high third time this season, encapsulating the team’s misfortune.

New manager Paolo Vanoli faces an immense challenge to revive a team that has collected just six points and holds the second-worst away record in Serie A. While a victory would not lift them out of the bottom three, it is crucial for closing the gap on the teams above them and preventing their situation from becoming insurmountable before Christmas.

Regarding team news, Sassuolo are contending with a lengthy injury list that includes key attacker Domenico Berardi, alongside Edoardo Pieragnolo, Aster Vranckx, and Daniel Boloca. In Berardi’s absence, the goalscoring responsibility will fall to Andrea Pinamonti, supported by Armand Lauriente.

Fiorentina will be without the suspended Martin Pongracic, while Tariq Lamptey and Robin Gosens are sidelined with injuries. The Viola will rely on top scorer Rolando Mandragora and hope last season’s leading marksman, Kean, can find his form alongside Albert Gudmundsson.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Walukiewicz, Izdes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kone; Volpato, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Comuzzo, Mari, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Fagioli, Sohm, Parisi; Kean, Gudmundsson

Despite being winless in their last three home fixtures, Sassuolo have consistently found the net at the Mapei Stadium, failing to score in just two of their six matches as hosts. Given Fiorentina’s struggles on the road, where they have failed to score in four of their seven away games, the home side is favoured to secure a narrow victory.

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