Sunday evening at the Mapei Stadium places Sassuolo and Milan at different points of their early-season work, but with the same need for a result. The sixth round meeting in Reggio Emilia, scheduled for 18:00, asks Sassuolo to respond after defeat at Monza and gives Milan the first stop in a demanding run of fixtures.
The coach and the club
Alberto Aquilani faces Milan as a former Rossoneri player. The Sassuolo coach spent the 2011-12 campaign at the club on loan from Liverpool, and now prepares his side for a match that follows a disappointing afternoon at Monza.
There is, however, a useful memory from Sassuolo’s previous home league outing. In that match, the Emilia club defeated Juventus, showing what the Mapei Stadium can offer when the team finds its rhythm.
For Ruben Amorim, the task is to build on Milan’s last performance against Lecce and turn that encouraging display into continuity. Milan need points to remain close to the leading group, with a crowded calendar about to test the squad’s depth: nine matches await in 29 days, beginning in Reggio Emilia.
A tactical question around Milan
There is also interest in the shape Milan may use. Initial indications against Lecce, followed by the longer friendly test against Padova during the international break, have suggested a possible move from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-2-3-1.
That remains a possibility rather than a certainty, but the choice would form part of Amorim’s attempt to carry the positive thread from the Lecce match into a period in which results and management will be closely connected.
Match officials and coverage
Francesco Fourneau of the Rome 1 section will referee the game. Palermo and L. Rossi are the assistants, while Chiffi has been appointed fourth official. Santoro will oversee VAR, assisted by Meraviglia.
The match will be shown on DAZN, Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport 4K, Sky Sport channel 251 and NOW.
