On 26 November, one of the matches of the 13th round of the Italian football championship took place. Empoli (Italy) and Sassuolo (Italy) met.
Italian Championship, 13th round
Empoli (Italy) - Sassuolo (Italy) - 3:4 (2:2)
Goals: Caputo (3), Jacopo Fazzini (25), Viktor Kovalenko (86) - Pinamonti (9), Mateus Enrique (20), Berardi (66), Berardi (90+2).
Warnings: Jacopo Fazzini (23), Youssef Maleh (30), Mateus Enrique (37), Berardi (50), Emmanuel Gyasi (90+1), Alberto Grassi (90+2).
Empoli and Sassuolo showed exciting football in a recent Serie A match at the Stadio Carlo Castellani - Computer Gross Arena. The match ended in a dramatic 4-3 victory for Sassuolo, giving the fans a rollercoaster of emotions. At half-time the score was tied 2-2, and both teams showed their skills in attack. Empoli scored first, realising a penalty awarded by F. Caputo in the 3rd minute. However, Sassuolo quickly responded with a goal by A. Pinamonti in the 9th minute. In the 20th minute, Sassuolo took the lead thanks to a goal by Mateus Henrique, leaving the Empoli defence in a daze. However, Empoli managed to equalise again thanks to G. Fazzini's strike in the 25th minute. The first half witnessed some thrilling moments: G. Fazzini and Y. Maleh received yellow cards for Empoli, while Mateus Henrique was sent off for Sassuolo in the 37th minute. The second half continued to show the intensity of play from both teams. In the 50th minute, Sassuolo's D. Berardi received a yellow card, which increased the tension on the pitch. In the 66th minute another penalty was awarded, this time in favour of Sassuolo.
D. Berardi classily converted the penalty, giving Sassuolo a 3-2 lead. In the 70th minute both teams made a flurry of substitutions. V. Kovalenko came on for Empoli instead of G. Fazzini, M. Cancellieri instead of D. Maldini and F. Ranocchia instead of A. Grassi. At "Sassuolo" instead of M. Viti, A. Lauriente and C. Thorstvedt came M. Vina, S. Castillejo and N. Bayrami respectively. "Empoli continued to resist, and in the 86th minute V. Kovalenko put the ball in the net, levelling the score - 3:3. However, in the end of the match D. Berardi again showed his composure and struck a decisive blow in the 90th minute, providing the team with a crucial victory. In the end of the match was not without scandals: in the 90th minute E. Gyasi received a yellow card, and A. Grassi followed suit. Sassuolo also made a last substitution: D. Berardi replaced M. Pedersen in the 90th minute. The match between Empoli and Sassuolo was intense, demonstrating the attacking capabilities of both teams. The fans were able to see the skill, determination and willingness not to give up. The Carlo Castellani Stadium - Computer Gross Arena was the perfect backdrop for this exciting match.
In the next round, the following matches await the rivals: Genoa vs Empoli, Sassuolo vs Roma.
| Empoli | Sassuolo | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kicks to the goal | 9 |
| 11 | Kicks | 17 |
| 1 | Blocked shots | 5 |
| 9 | Penalty kicks | 9 |
| 2 | Penalty kicks | 8 |
| 20 | Offences | 15 |
| 6 | Corner | 5 |
| 3 | Offsides | 0 |
| 49% | Ball possession | 51% |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red cards | 0 |
| 5 | Keeper saves | 5 |
| 361 | Total assists | 371 |
| 285 | Accurate assists | 277 |
| 79% | Accuracy of passes | 75% |