Sassuolo-Como: Match Preview

With the league match against Inter now behind them and a Coppa Italia clash against the Nerazzurri coming up next Tuesday, the BiancoBlu return to Serie A action with a trip to face Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium. Fabio Grosso’s side, currently 11th in the table, will come into the game after a narrow 2–1 away defeat to Genoa.

Sassuolo have shown themselves this season to be a proactive and well-balanced team, capable of competing with any opponent and picking up valuable results along the way, including a double win over Atalanta and away draws against Milan and Juventus. The hosts will be without Domenico Berardi, who is suspended following his red card against Genoa, but they still have plenty of attacking threat in Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté, as well as two of the standout young players of the season, Tarik Muharemović and Ismaël Koné, who scored last weekend at the Ferraris.

Friday’s match will be the third and final meeting between the two sides this season, after the BiancoBlu’s 3–0 and 2–0 wins at the Sinigaglia, first in the Coppa Italia in September, and then in Serie A in November.

Here are the words of Como 1907 head coach Cesc Fàbregas ahead of Sassuolo-Como:

“We're on a path of steady growth thanks to our players, our outstanding staff, and the intensity we bring to the field every day. We're building something that goes beyond immediate results, and the guys are responding in the right way. Let's keep it up and see how far we can go.”

“Today the team feels good, feels strong, regardless of the result. And it’s important to feel that way, especially for a young team. We have room for improvement on certain details that make the difference against top-tier teams and top players”

"Sassuolo is an excellent team that, compared to last season, has managed to improve further by building on an already solid foundation. In my opinion, they’re one of the teams playing the best soccer in Italy. They’re a proactive, modern side that’s enjoyable to watch even on TV, and they place great emphasis on ideas, movements, and making the most of their players’ individual qualities."

Sassuolo

Throughout the season, Fabio Grosso has consistently favoured a 4-3-3 formation with limited rotation and a well-defined hierarchy within the squad. In midfield, two key figures have been Nemanja Matić and Ismaël Koné, both signed during the summer transfer window. The Serbian midfielder has provided stability and experience for the Neroverdi, while Koné, who arrived from Marseille and operates as a wide midfielder, has offered a strong attacking threat, scoring six goals so far. The impact of 2003-born defender Tarik Muharemović has also been notable. In his first Serie A season, he has impressed with his composure in duels, his build-up play, and his strength in aerial battles.

Sassuolo currently sit ninth in Serie A for goals scored, 39. Grosso’s side have been particularly dangerous in attack, with Koné scoring six, Berardi seven, Pinamonti eight, and Laurienté five. Of those 39 goals, eight have come from corner situations, the third-highest total in Serie A, behind only Inter and Roma.

Left-back Josh Doig will also miss Friday’s match through suspension. Ulisses Garcia, who arrived from Marseille in January and has already scored against Cagliari, is expected to replace him. In Berardi’s absence, Cristian Volpato could be handed a start, the 2003-born winger is highly effective in one-on-one situations and creative in his link-up play. It will certainly be a challenging test for the BiancoBlu at the Mapei Stadium, against a well-organised side capable of causing problems for any opponent.

Previous encounters

Tonight’s match at Mapei Stadium will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams at the Neroverdi’s home ground. The only previous encounters between the two sides were the two matches played this season at the Sinigaglia, which ended 3-0 in favor of the Biancoblù (in the Coppa Italia) and 2-0, again in favor of Como (in Serie A).

Squad:
1 BUTEZ Jean
2 KEMPF Marc
3 VALLE Alex
5 GOLDANIGA Edoardo
6 CAQUERET Maxence
7 MORATA Alvaro
10 PAZ Nico
11 DOUVIKAS Tasos
14 RAMON Jacobo
17 RODRIGUEZ Jesus
18 MORENO Alberto
19 KUHN Nicolas
20 BATURINA Martin
21 TORNQVIST Noel
22 VIGORITO Mauro
23 PERRONE Maximo
28 SMOLCIC Ivan
31 VOJVODA Mërgim
33 DA CUNHA Lucas
34 DIEGO CARLOS
38 DIAO Assane
44 CAVLINA Nikola
77 VAN DER BREMPT Ignace

Match details
Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
Kick-off: 18:30 CEST
Stadium: Mapei Stadium
Referee: Fourneau
Assistants: Barone - Monaco

Where to watch
Italy: DAZN
Balkans: Arena Sport
USA: CBS - DAZN - FOX
South America: ESPN & Disney +
South Korea: SPOTV
Rest of the World: Check local listings