Sassuolo - injuries & suspensions October 2026

Sassuolo finished 11th in Serie A last season. After winning promotion, the team picked up 49 points and won 14 matches, staying in the league without too much anxiety. There was a change of coach over the summer. Fabio Grosso left, and Alberto Aquilani took his place after previously working at Catanzaro and Pisa. There were also several changes to the squad. Andrea Pinamonti left the club, but new forwards and several defenders arrived. Domenico Berardi stayed and is once again expected to be one of the team’s key players.

Aquilani gets to work

Aquilani has been given the chance to coach a team he once played for. However, he now faces a much tougher task than working with players in the lower leagues. Sassuolo want to play with confidence and keep possession, but they cannot neglect their defensive duties. Last season showed that the team can pick up points, although the new coach still needs to find his own way to get the most out of the squad.

A lot will depend on Berardi. The winger has been one of Sassuolo’s most important figures for years and can still make a difference in attack. On the other flank, Armand Laurienté can pose a threat with his pace and dribbling. In midfield, there are Kristian Thorstvedt, Ismaël Koné and the experienced Nemanja Matić, while Jay Idzes is in defence. Arijanet Murić remains in goal.

Attack without Pinamonti

Andrea Pinamonti’s move to Lazio forced Sassuolo to look for a new option at centre-forward. One of the players brought in is Sebastian Esposito, who arrives from Cagliari. He can play as a striker but can also drop deep to receive the ball and help build attacks. Kieron Bowie, signed from Hellas Verona, gives the team more physicality and can put defenders under pressure.

Benjamín Domínguez arrived from Bologna to play on the wing. The Argentine enjoys taking on opponents and looks for space in the penalty area. Berardi and Laurienté remain in the attack, while Vasilije Adžić, on loan from Juventus, can play behind the striker. The new arrivals have different strengths, but they will need to score regularly. That is where Sassuolo could have the biggest problem following Pinamonti’s departure.

Several changes in defence

Duje Ćaleta-Car joined from Olympique Lyon. The Croatian has played in several European leagues and should compete for a place in the heart of defence. Sassuolo have also brought in Rafa Obrador on loan from Benfica, Fedde Leysen from Union Saint-Gilloise and Ignace Van der Brempt from Como. Sebastian Walukiewicz, meanwhile, was signed permanently from Torino.

Tarik Muharemović is no longer at the club, having moved to Leeds United. Ruan also left, along with players whose loan spells ended, such as Ulisses Garcia and Woyo Coulibaly. The new defenders will have to adapt quickly to playing with the rest of the team, as Aquilani wants Sassuolo to attack more often.

What can we expect from Sassuolo?

After a successful return to Serie A, Sassuolo do not have to start the season thinking about avoiding relegation. That does not mean repeating last season’s result will be easy, though. The new coach is still getting to know the team, and Pinamonti’s departure means they need to find someone to take on some of the responsibility for scoring goals. Berardi can still lead the attack, while the experience of Matić and Ćaleta-Car should benefit the younger players. If Sassuolo are more clinical in front of goal and do not start regularly conceding on the counter-attack, they have a chance to finish in mid-table again.