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

The hosts, meanwhile, ended an identical winless streak themselves when beating Torino last time out in Serie A.

Match preview

Having finished inside the top 12 places in Serie A for each of the past eight seasons, expectations have become heightened at Sassuolo, who were only promoted to Serie A for the first time in their history in 2013.

Alessio Dionisi had big boots to fill when replacing Roberto De Zerbi - who recently joined Brighton & Hove Albion to test himself in the Premier League - last summer, but he handled the pressure well and only missed out on securing a top half finish by goal difference.

This season did exactly start as the former Empoli boss would have wanted, though, with six points from six games seeing them languish towards the bottom of the table. However, Agustin Alvarez's injury-time winner in Turin ensured that they headed into the international break with a much better feeling and position in Serie A.

With his side facing Inter Milan and Atalanta in their next two matches after Salernitana on Sunday, Dionisi may be targeting the forthcoming clash as an important match to win, potentially buying themselves breathing space should those tougher fixtures not go to plan.

Likewise, Salernitana's need to put more points on the board grows with each passing week, particularly having disappointingly lost 2-1 at home to Lecce prior to the international break.

Their newly promoted opponents were yet to win in Serie A this season, but Gabriel Strefezza's 83rd-minute strike saw them snatch all three points at Stadio Arechi and leave The Garnets empty-handed.

Despite this, Davide Nicola remains a hugely popular figure in Salerno, having performed a minor miracle to help them avoid relegation in their first season back in Serie A for 23 years, with the 49-year-old guiding his team to a crucial four-match winning streak not too long after taking over in February earlier this year.

That said, the club's aspirations have been raised after a busy summer transfer window, which saw around £40m being lavished on 17 new players when including incoming loanees. As such, Nicola only has so much credit in the bank, and he may need to keep his side away from any serious relegation danger in order to remain in the job.

Sassuolo Serie A form:

W

D

D

D

L

W

Salernitana Serie A form:

D

W

D

D

D

L

Team News

Sassuolo are likely to remain without their talismanic attacker Domenico Berardi on Sunday, but the Italy winger could return from his muscle injury in time to face Inter at Mapei Stadium - Citta del Tricolore next weekend.

Gregoire Defrel, Hamed Traore, Martin Erlic and Mert Muldur are all injury doubts, too, meaning Dionisi is likely to name an unchanged XI to the side which beat Torino last time out.

Salernitana, meanwhile, will travel without Franck Ribery, Federico Fazio, Emil Bohinen and Ivan Radovanovic due to injury.

Unlike his forthcoming counterpart, Nicola may be pondering changes after his side's disappointing defeat to Lecce prior to the break, with Matteo Lovato and Domagoj Bradaric providing options to tighten up the defence.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:

Consigili; Toljan, Ayhan, Ferrari, Rogerio; Frattesi, Lopez, Harroui; D'Andrea, Pinamonti, Lauriente

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Sepe; Bronn, Daniliuc, Lovato; Candreva, Coulibaly, Maggiore, Vithena, Bradaric; Piatek, Dia

We say: Sassuolo 1-1 Salernitana

Sassuolo have lacked cutting edge without Berardi in attack, and the winger's likely absence through injury significantly reduces their chances of winning any football match.

As such, we can envisage Salernitana making things tough for them, with a score draw seeming the most logical outcome on Sunday.

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