Having made a positive start to life back in Serie A, Frosinone host Sassuolo on Sunday afternoon.

While the Canarini recovered from losing on the opening day to take four points from a possible six just before the international break, their Emilian visitors have lost twice already.

Match preview

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After finishing last season seven points clear at the top of Serie B to secure their return to Italy's top flight, Frosinone lost the architect of that success when coach Fabio Grosso stepped aside soon after promotion was sealed - the former Azzurri star is now set to take charge of Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Eusebio Di Francesco now occupies the bench at Stadio Benito Stirpe, and following their promising pre-season and a first-round victory in the Coppa Italia, his side have fared well enough in the opening weeks of the Serie A campaign.

Following an expected loss to Napoli on the opening day, in which they struck first through summer signing Abdou Harroui, a surprise win against Atalanta and subsequent draw with Udinese means the Canarini could now go unbeaten through three top-flight matches for the first time since 2018.

This weekend, former Sassuolo boss Di Francesco will lead Frosinone out against his old club - for whom Moroccan midfielder Harroui previously played - seeking to build on foundations set before international football intervened.

In their four previous Serie A meetings with Sunday's visitors, the promoted side have suffered two home losses without scoring: putting that record right would help them continue in the right vein, with a long scrap for survival likely to lie ahead.

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While they sit below Frosinone in the early standings, Sassuolo are unbeaten in their last 10 encounters with the Canarini across Serie A and B, with six wins and four draws during that time.

Coach Alessio Dionisi may hope such precedent counts for something in this week's fixture, as after an opening month overshadowed by more Domenico Berardi-related disruption, the Neroverdi have only three points to show for their efforts so far.

Although their long-serving talisman did stay in Reggio-Emilia in the end, during his exile from the Sassuolo squad they were beaten by Napoli and Atalanta without registering a goal - upon Berardi's return to the fray against Hellas Verona, he netted twice in a 3-1 home win.

Now off the mark on Emilian soil, Sassuolo will aim to remedy their recent ills on the road: they have won none of their last six away matches in the league, losing on five occasions, and that represents their worst such run since mid-2019.

Another failure, and particularly against promoted opponents, would turn the spotlight back on Dionisi, who has walked in the long shadow cast by predecessor Roberto De Zerbi since his appointment two years ago.

Team News

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Having scored in both of his first two appearances at Stadio Stirpe, Abdou Harroui will be a significant absentee for Frosinone on Sunday, as a foot injury rules him out of meeting his former team.

The midfielder scored only twice in 45 appearances for Sassuolo, but a bright start to life in the hosts' Gialloblu jersey had seen him established among the supporting cast for central striker Walid Cheddira.

While the latter recently joined Frosinone on loan from Napoli, two Juventus loanees - Enzo Barrenechea and Matias Soule - are also likely to start this weekend.

Last term's leading scorer Samuele Mulattieri left for Sassuolo during the summer, but the visitors are instead set to persist with Andrea Pinamonti up front, after he scored the opener against Verona last time out.

Domenico Berardi returned with a bang in that game and has now been directly involved in at least one goal in each of his last six league matches, totalling six goals and one assist.

After losing Maxime Lopez to Fiorentina at the end of the transfer window, ex-Frosinone man Daniel Boloca will battle it out with Uros Racic for selection in Sassuolo's engine room.

Long-term absentee Agustin Alvarez remains out of action until November, and Alessio Cragno replaces the injured Andrea Consigli in goal, but the Neroverdi should travel south with an otherwise fully available squad - including recent arrival Samu Castillejo.

Frosinone possible starting lineup:
Turati; Oyono, Monterisi, Romagnoli, Marchizza; Mazzitelli, Barrenechea, Gelli; Soule, Cheddira, Baez

Sassuolo possible starting lineup:
Cragno; Toljan, Erlic, Tressoldi, Vina; Boloca, Henrique; Berardi, Bajrami, Lauriente; Pinamonti

We say: Frosinone 1-1 Sassuolo

As Sassuolo seem to lack the necessary nous to succeed away from home, they may have to settle for a point from their trip to Frosinone, who have made some intriguing signings. The hosts are also managed by the canny Eusebio Di Francesco, who can hold one of his former clubs to a low-scoring draw.


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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