In Nothern Italy, in Reggio Emilia, the region of Emilia-Romagna, Sassuolo is an Industrial town which specializes in Ceramic tiles. 80% of Italian ceramic tiles are produced there. It is also host to a Serie A football team.
Unione Sportiva Sassuolo Calcio SRL, to give it it's full name, was founded in 1922 and for the most part bounced around in the lower reaches of the Italian Football pyramid until 2006 when they got promoted to Serie C. It only took 2 more years to gain another promotion, this time to Serie B in 2008. A couple of years of heartbreaking failures in the playoffs followed but eventually they reached the promised land of Serie A in the summer of 2013 under the guidance of coach Eusebio Di Francesco.
So for the first time in Sassuolo's history they began life in the top flight of Italian football in August of this year when they travelled to Turin to take on the home side Torino. Unfortunately they suffered a 2-0 defeat. Four successive defeats at the start of the season including a 7-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan and things were looking very bleak.
So for the first time in Sassuolo's history they began life in the top flight of Italian football in August of this year when they travelled to Turin to take on the home side Torino. Unfortunately they suffered a 2-0 defeat. Four successive defeats at the start of the season including a 7-0 thrashing at home to Inter Milan and things were looking very bleak.
However, a midweek away fixture against early pacesetters Napoli changed their whole season around. A 1-1 draw in Naples, with a goal from 22 year old Simone Zaza, who is part-owned by Juventus and everything changed. Another draw with Lazio followed. Then, on the 20th of October Sassuolo had their very first Serie A victory, a home win over Bologna by 2 goals to 1. Goals from 19 year old striker Domenico Berardi and Antonio Floro Flores gave the Serie A newcomers an historic victory. Since then an amazing match in Genoa saw Sassuolo emerge victorious by 4 goals to 3 over Sampdoria, quickly followed by a 1-1 draw with league leaders Roma. After a very slow start Sassuolo began to find their feet in Serie A.
The inclusion of both youngsters, Simone Zaza and Domenico Berardi up front has injected much needed pace and enthusiasm. 3 goals from Zaza and 6 from Berardi, ably assisted by Floro Flores who has chipped in with 3 more have given them a threat in front of goal and they will be a match for all teams.
Some shrewd loan signings have also aided them, notably Reto Zeigler, Diego Farias, Ezequiel Schelotto, Domenico Berardi and Antonio Floro Flores. Berardi has impressed so much that he will move to Juventus at the end of the season.
So far so good for Sassuolo in their first season, can they keep it going and cement their place at the top table? Only time will tell, but they've got off to a very good start.
Domenico Berardi
Published by @gersloveofsport 18 November
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