SASSUOLO v AC MILAN: KEYS TO THE MATCH

Sassuolo v AC Milan is a fixture between two sides with a similar philosophy of attractive attacking football and one that rarely lacks highlights. Previous meetings between the Neroverdi and Rossoneri in Serie A have often been footballing feasts, with surprising results and big occasions. Ahead of kick-off at the Mapei Stadium, let's take a look at three possible keys to this matchday 4 clash.

FOCUS ON THE RIGHT FLANKS
Both Sassuolo and AC Milan play with a back four, which is becoming increasingly less common in the modern game, and put a lot of focus on the flanks in terms of building up play. The Rossoneri's left flank is particularly lethal with Hernández and Leão but it's our right wing that will need to put in a big attacking performance against the Emilian outfit given the presence of the dangerous Domenico Berardi. Since the start of last season, AC Milan have been fairly consistent with who's deployed down the right: Calabria or Florenzi at right-back and Messias or Saelemaekers on the wing. The Rossoneri's right is all about stability given the attacking nature of the left with Theo and Rafa. Opponents such as Berardi and Toljan could force our operators on the right to shoulder a bit more of the attacking burden.

LATE RUNS FROM MIDFIELD
In the summer, the Neroverdi sold two big players in Raspadori and Scamacca, but they have added Thorstedt in midfield to replace Đuričić, who didn't feature much in 2021/22. The Norwegian, formerly of Genk, adds goals (13 in his last two campaigns) to Dionisi's midfield, where he will partner Frattesi - who himself bagged his first goal of the season against Spezia. Late runs from midfield are also important to AC Milan's style of play, with big goals often coming from the centre of the park, most notably through Sandro Tonali. Tommaso Pobega has also returned from loan; he managed ten Serie A goals in the last two seasons with Spezia and Torino.

NEW-LOOK FRONT LINE
Both sides have added new attacking firepower this summer. We've already mentioned Sassuolo's departing strikers, but the Neroverdi have signed Pinamonti - who scored his first of the season in La Spezia - and the Uruguayan Álvarez as replacements. Dionisi has also entrusted Kyriakopoulos down the week in the first three matches of the season. The Rossoneri have also brought in more attacking options. Against Bologna there were minutes for De Ketelaere and Adli, who could be involved again in Reggio Emilia: an opportunity to find a first official central midfielder for the Rossoneri. Sassuolo and AC Milan do not only have attacking certainties - Berardi in the former, Leão in the latter - and the match on the fourth day could see some of the two teams' new forward prospects.

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