SASSUOLO v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

We return to the place where, just over three months ago, we experienced an historic day. Back to Reggio Emilia, back to the Mapei Stadium: this is a new season, with a new story to be written. The 2022/23 Serie A sees Sassuolo v AC Milan face off on the fourth matchday of the season, in the first set of midweek games. Here's our preview of the match. 

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
The Rossoneri returned to winning ways against Bologna on Saturday, thanks to a solid and at times convincing performance. Their confidence is growing and their condition is improving: against the neroverdi Mister Pioli will have to do without Krunić, still struggling with a muscle injury, the long-suffering Ibrahimović, Rebić and Origi. All the rest of the squad is available and - after Saturday's engagement - has had two training sessions at Milanello to prepare for today's challenge. After three intense and demanding matches and - above all - with a tour de force of matches just around the corner, Pioli could make a few changes to the starting line-up. 

LATEST FROM SASSUOLO
It is a rejuvenated Sassuolo that will play the Rossoneri, three months after last meeting them. The departures of Scamacca and Raspadori in attack have been replaced by the arrivals of Pinamonti and Agustín Álvarez. Three fundamental figures in Magnanelli, Peluso and Chiriches have said goodbye, and the rearguard has been reinforced with the return of Martin Erlic from his loan at Spezia. The Dionisi will be missing two important pieces in Müldür and Traoré, who are both out through injury. After the opening day defeat to Juventus, the Emilian side has taken four points in two matches with a win against Lecce - thanks to Berardi - and a draw with Spezia. 

This is what Dionisi said in his press conference on the eve of the match: "We respect AC Milan, more than we fear them. They have added quality and awareness after the Scudetto, so we might be underdogs at the start, but we want to change that".

MATCH OFFICIAL
In charge of the game will be 30-year-old Giovanni Ayroldi. For the Apulian referee, it will be his 21st game in Serie A, his first in an AC Milan game and his third with Sassuolo, the last of these dating back to December 2020. Completing the match officials team are referee assistants Tolfo and Rocca together with fourth man Rapuano. In charge of VAR is Banti, assisted by Bindoni.

It will be the challenge in Reggio Emilia that will open the set of midweek matches in Gameweek 4. On the pitch at 18.30 CEST at the Mapei Stadium, the programme will then move to San Siro for Inter v Cremonese and the Olimpico for Roma v Monza, both at 20.45 CEST. Five matches will be played tomorrow: at 18.30 CEST Empoli v Verona, Sampdoria v Lazio and Udinese v Fiorentina; at 20.45 CEST Juventus v Spezia and Napoli v Lecce. The round will end on Thursday at 20.45 CEST with Atalanta v Torino and Bologna v Salernitana. 

This is the Serie A table: Napoli 7, AC Milan 7, Lazio 7, Atalanta 7, Torino 7, Roma 7; Inter 6; Juventus 5, Fiorentina 5; Salernitana 4, Udinese 4, Sassuolo 4, Spezia 4; Empoli 2; Lecce 1, Bologna 1, Hellas Verona 1, Sampdoria 1; Cremonese 0, Monza 0. 

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