Final score: Sassuolo 1-1 Fiorentina

Pregame

Some surprises in both lineups as, with Domenico Berardi suspended, Sassuolo manager Eusebio di Francesco picked veteran striker Sergio Floccari over Antonio Floro Flores. Paulo Sousa gave Giuseppe Rossi and Manuel Pasqual surprise starts for Fiorentina.

First half

Fiorentina came out firing, getting the ball into the box several times and creating numerous early chances. The breakthrough came from a Federico Bernardeschi cross, which Giuseppe Rossi whiffed on. The ball bounced off Pepito to Borja Valero, who cooly slotted home.

Sassuolo upped the pressure, furiously closing down a rattled-looking Viola defense, and eventually won a corner which Floccari headed in, leading to a 1-1 first half.

Second half

The match became more back and forth than Fiorentina would have liked, and Sassuolo probably looked the better team for much of the second period, although Fiorentina did have a penalty shout turned down.

Full time

A sloppy game for a wet day. After a bright beginning to the match, Fiorentina looked second-best for much of the day, unable to break through an energetic Neroverdi press and completely out of ideas in the final third other than hoping Valero or Bernardeschi could produce some magic instead of deploying a coherent attacking strategy.

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Consigli; Vrsaljko (YC 55'), Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Laribi (Biondini 72'), Magnanelli, Missiroli; Defrel, Floccari (YC 53'; Floro Flores 77'), Sansone (Matteo Politano 88')

Fiorentina (3-4-1-2): Tatarusanu; Roncaglia, Gonzalo, Astori; Bernardeschi, Badelj (YC 66'; Verdú 69'), Vecino, Pasqual (Alonso 79'); Valero; Ilicic, Rossi (Kalinic 56')

Goals: Valero 5' (kind of assisted by Rossi, maybe); Floccari 42' (assist Vrsaljko)