Edin Dzeko's second-half turn off the bench proves the brilliant difference for Inter, after his goal tied things up with Sassuolo before he drew the penalty that Lautaro Martinez nailed to earn them a win. There are no spoils shared in Serie A here today - it is the champions who take it all. Full-time, it finishes Sassuolo 1-2 Inter.
Alessio Dionisi will have plenty of time to chew over that one, but it will undoubtedly sting, given how often his side took it to the Scudetto holders. They start October with a loss - the only way is up.
Simone Inzaghi has seen his side cut the gap at the summit though - and now, he will have to hope that Napoli slip up elsewhere for a best-case scenario. He too has some time to think - though many of his players will be otherwise occupied.
Cronaca
Formazioni
Statistiche
Now, it will be a fortnight's wait, as the October international break takes precedence. Both sides will kick their heels for a while - but until the next time, thank you for joining us and have a great weekend!22:37
90'+4'
FULL-TIME: SASSUOLO 1-2 INTER22:36
90'+2'
Barella is fed by Dzeko, looking for a final bit of gloss, but his effort is dramatically wayward in the end.22:39
90'
There's going to be four added minutes in this contest.22:32
89'
Danilo D'Ambrosio replaces Lautaro Martinez in Inter's fifth change.22:31
88'
Berardi! An absolute hammerblow of a strike is thrashed in and Handanovic almost spills it under himself, into his own net. It is a moment of real nerves for Inter and their goalkeeper.22:31
86'
Gianluca Scamacca replaces Davide Frattesi in Sassuolo's latest change.22:29
84'
Sassuolo have only a handful of minutes to get something out of this game. They've had to weather a few storms and have perhaps had a few decision go against them too; they don't deserve to be empty-handed.22:29
82'
Dzeko has the ball in the back of the net.- but the linesman's flag is up. VAR takes a look and confirm the call that there was an offside play in the buildup.22:25
80'
Sassuolo just can't catch a break right now, can they? Raspadori is booked for a challenge on Darmian on the edge of the box and the hosts' heads drop a little more.22:23
78'
GOAL! LAUTARO MARTINEZ NAILS HIS PENALTY TO HAND INTER THE LEAD! 2-1! The striker doesn't make many mistakes - and his effort here, cracked into the bottom-right corner, could well be what puts his side over the top with their second-half comeback. Frustration for Sassuolo; elation for their visitors.
Penalty to Inter! Andrea Consigli comes to the edge of his box and catches Dzeko with a heavy challenge - and the referee both books him and points to the spot in one motion. Superb drama ahead of the final quarter-hour, to put the champions on top.22:19
75'
Hamed Junior Traore replaces Filip Djuricic in Sassuolo's second change.22:17
72'
Inter have scored the most headed goals in Serie A this season with seven, whilst Sassuolo have now conceded their first. 22:17
70'
Lopez is also shown a yellow card for his efforts.22:12
70'
Tempers are flaring right now and the referee seeks to cool them. Barella is booked as part of his actions.22:12
67'
There will be a booking for Perisic now however after he cuts down a Sassuolo counter with an industrial challenge.22:11
66'
Dzeko tries a throughball now, only for Martinez to stray offside in the buildup. This is becoming rampant as the visitors look for the lead of this game.22:09
64'
Giacomo Raspadori replaces Gregoire Defrel in Sassuolo's first change.22:05
63'
Yellow Card Mert Müldür21:25
62'
Dzeko looks to return the favour for Perisic now, but the latter can't keep his shot down. Inter are absolutely purring all of a sudden.22:08
60'
It is as if Inter have just attached a supercharger to the chassis of their formation. De Vrij puts a header high now on the back of a corner and Sassuolo look like they are struggling to keep their cool.22:07
58'
Perisic picked that ball out wonderfully. Sassuolo will be absolutely kicking themselves with that concession - and now the game shifts back towards their visitors with a sharp sting.22:05
58'
GOAL! EDIN DZEKO MAKES AN INSTANT IMPACT FOR INTER! 1-1! Talk about having the desired effect! He's barely been on the pitch a minute and yet he has already wrestled Inter straight back into this game! It's a diving header, meeting Perisic's cross at the far post. Superb stuff!
Edin Dzeko replaces Joaquin Correa in Inter's fourth change.22:04
57'
Federico Dimarco replaces Alessandro Bastoni in Inter's third change.22:04
57'
Matteo Darmian replaces Denzel Dumfries in Inter's second change.22:04
57'
Arturo Vidal replaces Hakan Calhanoglu in Inter's first change.22:03
56'
Inter finally dig themselves out of trouble to build some pressure of their own down the other end. They snap up a corner, pile on the players - and then get flagged for a handball.21:58
54'
So close for Sassuolo - again and again and again! Back-to-back short finishes are somehow parried away and they then smash a finish into the side netting. Inter have ridden their luck there.21:57
52'
No side has scored more goals than Inter in the opening (six) and last (eight) 30 minutes of play in Serie A this season – on the other hand, no team has scored fewer than Sassuolo during these periods (zero and one).21:57
50'
Rogerio goes close to adding a second but Handanovic - who remains on after escaping that late twist in the first half - duly palms it away intelligently.21:54
48'
The visitors clearly want to make a quick start - Perisic pings an effort wide of the mark to the right and the hosts promptly pile back downfield in an attempt to cut them off before they build a head of steam.21:53
46'
We're back underway in Serie A. Can Sassuolo hold on to take three points here? Or can Inter show their champion qualities once more?21:49
Sassuolo’s Maxime Lopez has had the most carries in Serie A this season (117), covering the highest distance through ball carries (1436m).21:40
Domenico BerardI's penalty is the difference at the break, but Inter are perhaps lucky to not have a man down too. It's been a pulse-pounding first half - and there's plenty of more to come. At half-time, it's Sassuolo 1-0 Inter.21:36
45'+1'
HALF-TIME: SASSUOLO 1-0 INTER21:33
45'
Hello, Handanovic could be in trouble here. A poor back-pass allows Defrel to dart in and he takes the ball around the goalkeeper, who - having raced out of his box - promptly cleans him out later. Remarkably, the call goes against Sassuolo - and they furiously protest as the whistle blows for half-time.21:33
43'
Sassuolo are undeniably holding their own here though. It is very satisfying for the home crowd.21:31
41'
With less than five to the break, is there anything in the tank for Inter to take into the break? That is the question. They're certainly suggesting so with the energy.21:30
39'
Inter have scored 2+ goals in each of their last 11 league games: never in their Serie A history have they managed to so in 12 consecutive matches (also 11 in 1943).21:23
37'
There's a yellow card here - but it is not for a player! It is Simone Inzaghi who is booked for mouthing off to the officials.21:25
34'
Another chance for Inter, and again Sassuolo clear their lines after the long ball almost catches them out. It would have been offside had a finish made its way in, but either way, it caused a flutter.21:22
32'
Sassuolo shepherd a booming long ball back into their box safely. Inter feel they should have a free-kick, but the referee is unmoved.21:21
30'
Frattesi concedes a corner now and Inter look to push hard again. Sassuolo sternly rebuff them once more, holding their lines - but even as they counter, there is a little bit of unease.21:18
28'
Lopez sticks a finish low and to the left of the post. It just brushes it on the way - you don't get many closer than that without truly rattling the woodwork.21:15
26'
Before today, Sassuolo striker Domenico Berardi has had a hand in 10 goals in his last 10 Serie A meetings against sides in the Top-3 of the table at the beginning of the match-day (seven goals, three assists).21:14
24'
Just how do Inter rally here then? That is the big question looming for them. There is a long way - and likely more goals - to go in this game, but it is always a test of mettle coming from behind.21:12
22'
GOAL! DOMENICO BERARDI CONVERTS HIS PENALTY TO PUT SASSUOLO IN FRONT! 1-0! That is an absolute rocket of a finish, buried into the bottom-right corner. Handanovic goes the right way but he cannot get enough towards it. The hosts lead.
Just like that! Boga cuts into the box, draws Skriniar in and takes the foul - and the referee points straight to the spot! Sassuolo will have a penalty, despite Inter's protests. Berardi will take...21:09
19'
Boga is making his presence known on that left flank for Sassuolo, striving to and fro. It's causing a few headaches for Inter.21:08
17'
After their 1-0 win against Salernitana, Sassuolo could keep a clean sheet in back-to-back Serie A games for the first time since December 2020.21:06
15'
Down the other end, Muldur sees an effort blocked now. There is a proper see-saw energy to this encounter.21:05
13'
Bastoni sticks the header wide from the corner, looking to find the edge of the net with limited success. It serves up a sufficient warning shot for the hosts.21:04
12'
Rogerio diverts a ball out for another Inter corner. This is already looking to be quite a physical encounter, with both sides egging the other on.21:03
10'
Perisic almost brings down a threatening long ball at the edge of the opposition box, though his control means it does get away from him at the crucial moment. He was offside anyway in the end.21:02
8'
A follow-up header from Chiriches at the resulting corner is looped gracefully over the goal and into the stands behind.20:56
7'
Handanovic with the save! The Inter keeper makes a super play to deny Defrel after the latter came roaring in towards goal with a vengeance. Nicely done from the shotstopper.20:53
5'
Barella goes wide with an effort, and the noise burbles a little. That's the sort of play that will keep Sassuolo on their toes throughout.20:55
3'
An early corner for Inter finds the visitors flexing their muscles early on in this encounter, as they look to build some pressure straight out of the gate. Sassuolo hold.20:54
1'
The whistle goes and we are underway in this Serie A clash between Sassuolo and Inter!20:47
The teams have emerged in Emilia-Romagna ahead of kick-off. Today's referee is Luca Pairetto.20:46
Sassuolo and Inter have drawn only two of their 16 Serie A meetings (0-0 in 2019 and 3-3 in 2020) – both sides have won seven matches.20:37
Sassuolo and Inter have both won four Serie A meetings at the Mapei Stadium – however, Inter have won each of the last two such matches (3-4 in 2019 and 0-3 in 2020).20:34
Subs: Alexis Sanchez, Edin Dzeko, Arturo Vidal, Matteo Darmian, Alex Cordaz, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Aleksandar Kolarov, Andrea Ranocchia, Federico Dimarco, Roberto Gagliardini, Ionut Radu, Matias Vecino.20:25
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Marcelo Brozovic, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ivan Perisic; Joaquin Correa, Lautaro Martínez.20:23
SASSUOLO (4-2-3-1): Andrea Consigli; Mert Muldur, Vlad Chiriches, Gian Marco Ferrari, Rogerio; Davide Frattesi, Maxime Lopez; Domenico Berardi, Filip Djuricic, Jeremie Boga; Gregoire Defrel20:20
Nicolo Barella and Joaquin Correa both picked up injuries in recent matches but they are back to feature today as the visitors seek a full haul on the road. Giacomo Raspadori meanwhile drops to the bench in attack for the hosts.20:37
Their hosts are looking for back-to-back wins after bucking a three-game losing streak - and Alessio Dionisi will be sharp to know that he needs another three points to keep those European hopes on track following his rough run.20:20
Simone Inzaghi has had big shoes to fill at San Siro - and four points off pacesetters Napoli shows that there is ground to be gained following an off-season of upheaval for the Scudetto holders. Will they grab a win after a league draw with Atalanta last time out?20:17
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2020-21 Serie A season, as champions Inter look to get back to winning ways after back-to-back draws against Sassuolo at MAPEI Stadium.20:11
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore Città: Reggio nell'Emilia Capienza: 23717 spettatori20:11
Sassuolo - Inter is a match of 7 day of the season Serie A 2021/2022. The match will be 2 october at 18:00 in the stadium MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore in Reggio nell'Emilia. Referee of Sassuolo - Inter will be Luca Pairetto with the help of Salvatore Longo e Damiano Margani. At VAR there will be Luigi Nasca.
Currently Sassuolo is 13° in the standings with 7 points (thanks of 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats); while Inter is 2° in the standings with 17 points (thanks of 5 wins, 2 pareggi and 0 sconfitte). Sassuolo scored 7 goals and conceded 9; Inter scored 22 goals and conceded 8.
At home Sassuolo scored 4 points (1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses). Away Inter scored 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses). Sassuolo in the last three matches of the season challenged Atalanta, Salernitana and Inter obtaining 3 points thanks to 1 win, 0 draws and 2 losses. Inter in the last three matches of the season challenged Bologna, Fiorentina and Atalant obtaining 7 points thanks to 2 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses. In the last match Sassuolo was against Inter losing 1-2 while Inter was against Atalanta evening 2-2.
Sassuolo and Inter competed 16 times in the league. In the previous matches Sassuolo won 7 times, Inter won 7 times while the number of draw was 2.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Sassuolo-Inter You can see the live match Sassuolo-Inter here on Virgilio Sport starting 18:00 CET of 2 october. Discover who will broadcast live Sassuolo - Inter between Sky and Dazn.
