Serie A underachievers Sassuolo denied new champions Inter a chance to hit a 100-barrier this season with a precious 1-0 win at the Mapei Stadium. Armand Lauriente’s first-half goal decided a cagey affair in Emilia-Romagna as Davide Ballardini’s side pulled off an unlikely league double against the division’s best team.
Perhaps overly confident after lifting their 20th Scudetto, Inter failed to avenge a 2-1 defeat in September’s reverse fixture. Instead, relegation-battling Sassuolo took a massive step to securing salvation by remaining the only Serie A side to beat Nerazzurri this season – not once but twice!
Despite going winless in six consecutive league outings ahead of this match, Sassuolo toppled Simone Inzaghi’s experimental line-up, courtesy of Lauriente’s 20th-minute winner. Inter had an equalizing goal disallowed after a lengthy VAR check toward the end of the first half.
However, the visitors failed to create much in the second half, relinquishing a 28-game unbeaten Serie A streak. In one of their worst performances this season, Inzaghi’s lads attempted just one shot on target. Let’s look at out Inter ratings.
Inter (3-5-2)
Emil Audero – 6
Other than the goal, Yann Sommer’s deputy had to make just one save as Inter denied Sassuolo many shooting chances.
Benjamin Pavard – 5
An erratic display from the ex-Bayern Munich defender saw him get away without a red down the final stretch after committing a serious of mindless fouls on Lauriente.
Stefan de Vrij – 6.5
The Dutchman was late to thwart Sassuolo’s match-winner, but he was rock-solid tonight, winning multiple duels against Andrea Pinamonti.
Alessandro Bastoni – 6.5
Like De Vrij, the Italian held up his end of the bargain this evening, although he wasn’t as active in the build-up as he was against Milan and Torino in the last two rounds.
Carlos Augusto – 6
Swooped in for Federico Dimarco, but his crosses weren’t nearly as difficult to deal with as the Italian’s, though he had several decent runs down the flank on either side of halftime.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 5.5
Whether it’s fatigue or complacency, the veteran midfielder couldn’t impact the play before being subbed off at the hour mark.
Kristjan Asllani – 5
Took Hakan Calhanoglu’s place in the heart of Inzaghi’s midfield but came nowhere near the Turkish star’s high standards.
Davide Frattesi – 6
Although he looked lively for most of the first half, the Italy international failed to make a difference against his former club.
Denzel Dumfries – 6.5
While the attacking-minded full-back completed several bursting runs on the right-hand side, his poor decision-making often let him down in the crucial areas.
Alexis Sanchez – 6.5
The Chilean forward was supposed to make Marcus Thuram’s absence go unnoticed, but it wasn’t the case despite his best effort to inspire Inter to an elusive goal at the Mapei.
Lautaro Martinez – 6
Had a goal ruled out for offside on the stroke of halftime, but other than that, the Inter captain experienced a frustrating evening, barely having a sight of goal as Sassuolo defenders kept him quiet.
Substitutes
Juan Cuadrado – 6.5
Marko Arnautovic – 5.5
Tajon Buchanan – 7
Nicolo Barella – 6
Davy Klassen – 5.5
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