Serie A: Juventus vs Sassuolo in Top-of-the-Table Clash

Juventus vs Sassuolo

Juventus welcome Roberto De Zerbi’s Sassuolo to the Allianz Stadium on Sunday, in a game where the winner will finish the weekend top of Serie A.

It’s no surprise that the Bianconeri are up there, but the Neroverdi have had a great start under new coach Zerbi and will look forward to this game with little to lose and everything to gain. In picking up seven points from three games, Sassuolo are in a position to knock the champions off their perch.

But that’s one heck of a task, particularly when you realise a certain Cristiano Ronaldo is still looking for his first league goal for Juventus!

Talking Points

Cristiano Ronaldo chases first Juventus goal in Serie A — Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo with Leonardo Bonucci before the match

The Serie A table has a curious look in the early stages of the new season. Yes, the Bianconeri sits at the top of the pile, but Serie A 2018 results so far have already thrown up a few surprises.

Inter, Roma, Milan and Lazio have all made a stuttering start to the campaign, while Napoli are three points adrift of the leaders in fifth and one place behind SPAL, the team embarking on a second season among Italy’s elite.

It has to be said that Juve’s biggest rivals have been playing each other, but the Bianconeri have fired out a warning, brushing Lazio aside, last time they were in Turin.

Max Allegri knows all about his opponents this weekend; as a young coach, he guided Sassuolo to promotion to Serie B in 2008. He’ll have some pride in his former team’s start, it’s been the early surprise package, since an opening-day win over Inter.

And a 5-3 victory over Genoa before the international break lifted the Neroverdi to the dizzy heights of second, but they did show some defensive frailty to let Genoa back into the game having been 5-1 up.

Striker Domenico Berardi is Sassuolo through and through, making his debut in 2012 and scoring 60 goals with a one-in-three ratio, a super return in Serie A against some of the best defences in the world. The 24-year-old has just returned from international duty, and his pace and tenacity will be a good test for Juve’s rock Leonardo Bonucci.

Beradi has recently been linked with some top clubs since his Italy call-up, and Sassuolo will have to fend off some offers in the near future.

Alongside Beradi will be attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. He has two goals already this season, so the ex-Milan player has a certain swagger. He may not have welcomed his wife’s intervention, though. Model Melissa Satta quipped: “Who is Cristiano?” ahead of her husband’s upcoming meeting with CR7. What’s the betting the Portuguese star will open his Serie A account on Sunday?

He’s already had 23 attempts on goal since his arrival in Turin, and shots will turn into goals soon enough. Roberto De Zerbi will hope Melissa’s jibe hasn’t annoyed Cristiano!

Anyhow, the Bianconeri have made a perfect start and overcame a stubborn Parma side last time out. The way their main rivals have already faltered, the Serie A 2018 betting odds on an eighth successive Scudetto for Juventus are already on the slide.

But there’s a long, long way to go, and Juventus are not in the habit of taking anything for granted.

History

Sassuolo come into the match vs Juventus, undefeated in their opening three Serie A games — Sassuolo players celebrate in front of fans after the match

Sassuolo first made it to Serie A in 2013 and have steadily improved since, finishing sixth and qualifying for the Europa League in 2106. Last season, they recovered from a slow start to finish comfortably in 11^th.

The visitors are ambitious and will be keen to continue their excellent start. Both teams have four wins from the last five in all competitions: Sassuolo unbeaten while the Old Lady lost her final ICC Cup game against Real Madrid.

The head-to-head reads eight to one, with one draw, in Juventus’ favour. Last season Sassuolo had two meetings to forget: they lost 1-3 at home at the Mapei Stadium when Paulo Dybala scored a hat-trick (the Argentine is likely to start on the bench this weekend), and they suffered a 7-0 hammering in Turin when it was Gonzalo Higuain’s turn to score three.

Sassuolo fans will be pleased he has headed to Milan for now, but his replacement, Ronaldo, might well dampen their enthusiasm!

Betting Tip

	Juventus vs Sassuolo	First Half Asian Handicap Juventus -0.75@ 1.81
	September 16, 21:00 (GMT+8)

Sassuolo are in good nick and certainly have an attacking threat, but the Neroverdi haven’t yet come up against a defence as resolute as Juve’s. I can see them scoring, but keeping Juventus out will be a real test if they couldn’t stop Genoa scoring three. Over 3.00 goals is available at 1.76 while under is at 2.16.

Take a look at the full set of SBOBET odds and you’ll see a very short price on a home win. Juventus is at 1.23, the draw at 6.00 and Sassuolo way out at 11.50.

I just can’t see the visitors holding out for 45 minutes.