Key Facts
- Sassuolo is eleventh in the tight midfield with 29 points, while Inter leads with 55 points; a home win would noticeably shift the balance of power in the table.
- Sassuolo has lost three times recently and has not won a second half in its last five league games, which fits with Inter’s pattern of turning games around after the break.
- Berardi’s first start since late November resulted in a goal and an own goal against Pisa, while Inter will be without Dumfries and Darmian and Sassuolo without Candé and Pieragnolo.
- Inter have scored at least twice in all four of their recent wins and have seen over 1.5 goals in five consecutive games, although they have conceded in their last two.
- There have been no draws in the last five head-to-head matches; at halftime, there have always been fewer than 1.5 goals, but both teams have scored in four games.
The most exciting detail about this matchup is not so much that Inter are traveling as the league leaders, but when they will strike: things often get really serious after the break. Sassuolo welcomes Inter Milan to the MAPEI Stadium, Città del Tricolore, on Sunday for the 24th matchday of Serie A. Fabio Grosso’s team is in 11th place with 29 points and remains stuck in the middle of the table. Inter, coached by Cristian Chivu, lead the league with 55 points and are in better form recently. The last match in September 2025 ended 2-1 in Inter’s favor. The betting market sees Inter as clear favorites, but that doesn’t mean the best approach is automatically to bet on the outright result.
- Venue: MAPEI Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia
- Date and time: February 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 24)
With Inter priced as clear favorites away from home, the more exciting value lies in how the game develops rather than simply who wins. Sassuolo’s recent run in the league includes three defeats, and it is also striking that they have not won a second half in their last five games. This suits Inter, who usually keep the pressure high for long periods and can turn games around with their depth in the squad. At the same time, Berardi’s return to the starting lineup and his immediate impact in Pisa suggest that Sassuolo have enough firepower to contribute a goal themselves, especially as Inter are without Dumfries and Darmian and have conceded goals in recent appearances. Add to that Inter’s busy February schedule and the three-match away ban that keeps their fans at home, and a controlled first half is quite conceivable, followed by a more open second.
Sassuolo Form & Record Check
Sassuolo’s last five league games have been a swing between relief and reality: wins against Pisa 3-1 and Cremonese 1-0, framed by defeats against Napoli 1-0, Roma 2-0, and Juventus 3-0. This run is broadly in line with expectations for a newly promoted side, but it also shows how quickly an evening can turn around once Sassuolo falls behind. The fact that there were no draws during this phase speaks for a team that tends to play in clear, decisive phases rather than managing a draw. The victory against Pisa was encouraging not only because of the score, but also because of the way Grosso’s team repeatedly created good moments under pressure. Berardi made his mark in his first start since the end of November, with a goal and a cross that forced an own goal. Koné finished off an attack started by Matic, and Idzes contributed a crucial save on the line. Nevertheless, Sassuolo has conceded goals in four of its last five league games and will continue to be without Candé and Pieragnolo, so its defensive stability will be severely tested by Inter’s movement and pace.
Inter Form & Record Check
Inter Milan are coming off a 2-1 win over Torino in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals, and their form across all competitions has been impressive overall.
In their last five games, they have won 2-0 at Cremonese in Serie A, 2-0 at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League group stage, and 6-2 at home against Pisa. Their only setback was a 3-1 home defeat to Arsenal in Europe. The reaction to this defeat was calm and professional. Chivu has to juggle a busy schedule, with the Champions League playoff against Bodo Glimt coming up later this month, but Inter still look capable of maintaining their intensity for the full 90 minutes. Bonny and Diouf’s goals against Torino show that goals don’t have to come from the big names, even with Dumfries out and Darmian, Çalhanoğlu, and Barella struggling with fitness issues. With Martínez and Thuram in the squad, the goal threat remains stable, and it is precisely this depth that makes the second half so interesting.
Chivu is likely to stick with Inter’s usual 3-5-2 formation, with Sommer behind a back three of Bisseck, de Vrij, and Bastoni. The big personnel question is on the right: with Dumfries still out after ankle surgery and Darmian out sick, Henrique is an obvious solution at wing-back, while the returning Dumfries is more likely to end up on the bench than in the starting lineup. In midfield, the absences of Çalhanoğlu and Barella point to Frattesi, Sučić, and Mkhitaryan, which would tip the balance in favor of Frattesi’s deep runs and faster vertical passing. Martínez and Thuram should start up front, with Inter likely to try to create numerical superiority on the wing via Dimarco and then play into the box early. Zieliński or Diouf look like the most important alternatives in the game.
Sassuolo – Inter Head-to-Head & Statistics
The last five head-to-head matches have followed a clear pattern: decisive results, not a single draw. Inter won 2-1 in September 2025, Sassuolo won 1-0 at home in 2024, then Sassuolo won 2-1 away in 2023, before Inter responded with a 4-2 win at home later that year. The oldest game in this series, a friendly between the clubs in 2022, ended 1-0 away to Inter. Interestingly, these games often started quietly and then became more intense, with all five games having fewer than 1.5 goals at halftime. Four of the five encounters also saw fewer than 3.5 goals, yet both teams scored in four games, an exciting combination when you consider Both Teams to Score: Yes with a higher number of goals. Inter has scored in each of the last three duels, and Sassuolo has conceded in each of the last three, so a second half in which Inter takes command fits well with the recent picture.
