On the pitch
Sassuolo-Empoli 2-2
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Sassuolo-Empoli 2-2,
Sassuolo-Empoli 1-2, Niang scores from a penalty in the 64th minute.
The former Milan player made it three out of three from the spot, surprising Consigli with a cross-court shot.
Empoli ahead again.
Sassuolo-Empoli 1-1, Pinamonti scores from a penalty in the 54th minute
.
This time the former Inter man makes no mistake as he leaves Caprile standing in the center of the goal and chases away the ghosts of the double penalty missed in Bergamo.
The first half ends.
Sassuolo wins the game but Empoli creates the opportunities: in addition to Luperto's goal, with a header following a set assist from Marin, the guests also hit the post with Cancellieri and always give the impression of being able to do harm on the restart.
For the home team, however, there was a lot of smoke but no fire, the only shot on target arriving, weakly, in the 47th minute with Pinamonti heading in Doig's serve.
A goal against Empoli was disallowed in the 23rd minute.
Offensive sortie from the Tuscans with Cancellieri crossing with his left foot from the right, no one touches the ball which ends up on the post, then Pedersen tries to move it away but it hits Maleh who turns and scores from two steps.
Aureliano cancels due to a handball from the former Fiorentina player, a decision which is confirmed by the VAR room.
Sassuolo-Empoli 0-1, goal by Luperto
in the 11th minute.
Marin draws a perfect trajectory from a set piece, Luperto heads in from a few steps to give the guests the lead.
Two teams with diametrically opposed forms face each other at the Mapei, but both are in full battle to avoid relegation to Serie B.
The hosts have sunk in the standings, obtaining only one victory in the last 11 championship matches while the Tuscans, thanks to Nicola's care, have won two of the last five, a period in which they are moreover unbeaten.
The first leg ended 4-3 for the neroverdi but, given the delicate situation for both, today a more tense and close match could await us.
The formations
OFFICIAL SASSUOLO LINEUP:
4-2-3-1 for Dionisi's men.
Tips - Pedersen, Ruan Tressoldi, Ferrari, Doig - Matheus Henrique, Boloca - Volpato, Thorstvedt, Laurienté - Pinamonti.
Available: Pegolo, Cragno, Missori, Racic, Mulattieri, Bajrami, Obiang, Ceide, Kumbulla, Castillejo, Toljan, Lipani, Defrel.
Three changes for the neroverdi compared to the eleven that took the field in Bergamo seven days ago.
Viti leaves room for Ferrari in the center of defense, Boloca returns to the starting line-up with Lipani on the bench and Volpato steals a place in the attacking midfield from Bajrami.
Berardi is still absent due to injury, the only striker will be the usual Pinamonti with Laurienté and Thorstvedt behind him.
Always Pedersen and Doig on the flanks, Ruan completes the defensive package ahead of Consigli.
In the middle of the field, with the aforementioned Boloca, there is Matheus Henrique.
OFFICIAL EMPOLI LINEUP:
Nicola lines up 3-4-2-1.
Caprile - Ismajli, Walukiewicz, Luperto - Cancellieri, Marin, Maleh, Cacace - Cambiaghi, Kovalenko - Cerri.
Available: Perisan, Berisha, Goglichidze, Pezzella, Shpendi, Niang, Bereszynski, Destro, Bastoni.
Without the suspended Gyasi, Nicola deploys Cancellieri at full flank on the right.
Together with the absence of Zurkowski, replaced by Kovalenko in the attacking midfield, this is the number one surprise of the day.
The attack is completed by Cerri and Cambiaghi.
Caprile is in goal with Ismajli, Walukiewicz and Luperto in the defensive trio, Marin and Maleh will instead have the task of filtering and inventing in midfield while Cacace will take care of the left wing.
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