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Juventus vs Sassuolo: 3 key Neroverdi players to watch out for

By Jyotirmoy Halder

REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - OCTOBER 02: Domenico Berardi of US Sassuolo celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo v FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on October 02, 2021 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
REGGIO NELL'EMILIA, ITALY - OCTOBER 02: Domenico Berardi of US Sassuolo celebrates with teammates after scoring their team's first goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo v FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on October 02, 2021 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) /
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The whirlwind of fixtures seems ceaseless, with Juventus hosting Sassuolo next on Wednesday evening in the tenth round of 2021/22 Serie A fixtures.

Excitement is apparent among both sets of fans ahead of the game, with each believing that it could be a mouth-watering encounter.

When it comes to the points table, this will be a crucial game for both sides. Having amassed 15 points from nine games, Juve occupy sixth, while Sassuolo sit four points behind them in 13th. A win would thrust the Bianconeri into the top four and victory for Sassuolo would see them climb into the top half, where they belong.

At the weekend, the Old Lady somehow managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan, thanks to the penalty converted by the returning Paulo Dybala. On the other hand, the Neroverdi secured a convincing 3-1 win over Venezia. Despite that win, Sassuolo are far from their finest, with Alessio Dionisi’s men racking up only two wins from their last seven league games.

Their poor run includes defeats to AS Roma, Inter Milan, Atalanta, and Torino. It is as if they have lost their way against more robust opponents. But that doesn’t mean that the Juventus players will have it easy on Wednesday.

3 key Sassuolo players to watch out for against Juventus

Filip Djuricic’s potential omission due to a muscular injury could be a huge blow for Sassuolo. Djuricic has proved himself as one of the most productive players for the Neroverdi with two goals and one assist in Serie A this season. Jeremie Boga has also been confirmed to be unavailable for the game against Juventus.

Nevertheless, Dionisi does have an admirable pool of talented prospects at his disposal and enough firepower to hurt a team like Juventus. Let us take a look at their three key players.

3. Giacomo Raspadori

Giacomo Raspadori, US Sassuolo (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/CPS Images/Getty Images)
Giacomo Raspadori, US Sassuolo (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/CPS Images/Getty Images) /

Getting popular in Italy at the age of 21 is not a child’s play. An interesting addition to Roberto Mancini’s 26-man Italy squad for Euro 2020, Raspadori has already caught the eye as one of the brightest starlets during his early days as a professional player.

With one goal and one assist from nine appearances (via FBref.com) in Serie A this term, Raspadori has shown glimpses of brilliance but has failed to convert chances into numbers. But it is just the start. Known for his link-up play, Raspadori is currently playing his fourth season for Sassuolo in the top tier of the Italian footballing landscape.

Using his low centre of gravity, Raspadori can turn his opponents quite easily.  He is quick between the lines and can create goalscoring opportunities as well as score some with both feet.

Quite versatile, the 21-year-old has an eye to play as a centre-forward but could also do the job down the flanks. In the absence of Djuricic and Boga, it will interesting to see whether Raspadori starts down the middle or on the left of Sassuolo’s attack.

If he were to start down the left, perhaps the tandem of Danilo and Juan Cuadrado would have to be at their astute best to halt Raspadori from pushing forward on Wednesday. As mentioned before, Raspadori is a special talent, the Juventus defenders should treat him like one.

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