Key Facts
- Sassuolo will be without several key players due to suspensions: Domenico Berardi and Josh Doig are out, and midfielder Daniel Boloca remains sidelined – the squad is significantly weakened.
- Warning signs: In five consecutive league matches, Sassuolo has conceded a goal before halftime in each game – a recurring pattern in their current slump.
- League standings heighten the importance of the match: Como is just two points behind Juventus; Roma is one point behind Como – the away game in Sassuolo is crucial in the race for European spots.
- Head-to-head record favors Como: In the last two competitive matches, Sassuolo failed to score and trailed at halftime in both (League match in November: 2-0 for Como; Coppa Italia in September 3-0 for Como).
- Market/form trends favor Como: Sassuolo has conceded goals in five consecutive league matches; Como has collected ten points from four games recently and also put up a brave performance against Inter.
- Goals likely from both sides: Both teams have scored in four of their last five matches, so a game with goals at both ends is quite possible.
Following the chaos in Genoa, Sassuolo must face Como at the MAPEI Stadium on Friday evening without the suspended Domenico Berardi—a setback for Fabio Grosso at the worst possible time. Despite their wild 3-4 loss to Inter, the visitors still have their sights set on fourth place and are just two points behind Juventus, while Grosso’s team has managed only four points from their last four league games; Como already won the first leg in November 2-0.
- Venue: MAPEI Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia
- Date and time: April 17, 2026, 6:30 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 33)
The market sees Como as the clear away favorite, and the logic behind this is understandable: Sassuolo is missing Domenico Berardi, and the hosts have conceded in five consecutive league matches. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be much action here. Sassuolo has scored in four of its last five matches, and Como’s recent games have been anything but low-scoring.
Sassuolo Form & Record Check
Sassuolo is coming off a 2-1 loss at Genoa, and that game is likely to linger, and not just because of the result. Ismaël Koné equalized after the break, but the game turned on small details once again when Genoa’s late goal punished a team that had previously lost Domenico Berardi to a red card in the locker room. Josh Doig is also suspended, which puts additional pressure on Fabio Grosso when planning the lineup.
The overall picture in the league is uncomfortable, though not yet alarming. Sassuolo has managed just one win in their last five league games, though the home victory against Cagliari and the draw at Juventus showed they can compete. They are one point behind Udinese, but the pattern is concerning, as they conceded a goal before halftime in each of those five games. With Daniel Boloca still out, the midfield has had to carry a particularly heavy load.
Fabio Grosso is likely to stick with his 4-3-3 formation, though this is, of course, just a prediction. Arijanet Murić – 49 could start in goal, with Woyo Coulibaly – 25, Jay Idzes – 21, Tarik Muharemović – 80, and Sebastian Walukiewicz – 6 in front of him. In midfield, Ismaël Koné – 90, Nemanja Matić – 18, and Kristian Thorstvedt – 42 would provide stability.
The most significant changes are likely forced. Domenico Berardi is suspended, as is Josh Doig; Daniel Boloca remains sidelined, and Fali Candé, Ulisses Garcia, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Aster Vranckx, and Darryl Bakola are also unavailable. This is likely to result in an attack centered around Andrea Pinamonti – 99, flanked by Armand Laurienté – 45 and Cristian Volpato – 7 on the wings.
Como Form & Record Check
Como lost 4-3 to Inter on Sunday, but it was one of those defeats that reinforced rather than damaged their overall impression. Thanks to Álex Valle and Nico Paz, they were up by two goals before being punished for two careless defensive moments after the break. Nevertheless, Fabregas’s team was brave, attack-minded, and dangerous enough to remind everyone why they are still chasing Juventus for fourth place.
That is precisely the key point in their league form. Before the Inter match, Como had picked up ten points from four games, including a draw in Udine and wins against Pisa, Roma, and Cagliari. They currently sit two points behind Juventus, while Roma, for their part, are just one point behind Como. The squad also looks more stable: with Jacobo Ramón and Jesús Rodríguez returning, the attacking options around Lucas Da Cunha and Nico Paz are built on a solid foundation.
The expectation is that Como, under Cesc Fàbregas, will once again rely on their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, though this is merely a prediction for now. Against a Sassuolo side whose midfield Fàbregas specifically praised before the match, the projected pairing of Sergi Roberto – 8 and Máximo Perrone – 23 looks particularly important. Nico Paz – 10 is expected to act as the main link behind Anastasios Douvikas – 11.
On the wings, Assane Diao – 38 and Martin Baturina – 20 are the likely options in this potential starting lineup. Adrian Lahdo and Jayden Addai remain sidelined, which is why the lineup in the attacking positions will be worth keeping a close eye on. The back four of Ignace Van der Brempt – 77, Diego Carlos – 34, Marc Oliver Kempf – 2, and Álex Valle – 3 is considered a predicted lineup, not a confirmed one.
Sassuolo – Como Head-to-Head & Statistics
The most recent encounters have been unusually one-sided. In November 2025, Como won 2-0 against Sassuolo in the league, followed by a 3-0 victory in the Coppa Italia in September 2025. Sassuolo failed to score in either match and was already trailing at halftime in both, which is arguably the most striking pattern. Interestingly, both games remained controlled in the second half as well, with both ending with under 3.5 goals.
