By Giulio Ricciardi
Sassuolo 3-1 Inter Milan:
Sassuolo defeated Inter in a heated affair off of goals from young Italian starlets Simone Zaza and Nicola Sansone. Both teams finished with 10 men after both Sansone and Inter defender Donkor received red cards late in the game.
Sassuolo, promoted only two years ago, has managed to survive in Serie A by consistently being in mid-table throughout the course of the season. With a team full of young players and possible future stars, Sassuolo has a bright future.
Meanwhile, Inter have had a season to forget since they have struggled throughout the year to move out of mid table. Despite having talented young players, Inter just have not clicked this season and continue to fall below expectations of a European tournament spot.
Sassuolo opened up the game with two goals in the first half from Zaza and Sansone to firmly put I Neroverdi in the lead. Throughout the first half, Sassuolo continued to attack Inter but Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic came up big for Inter to deny the hosts a third goal. During the second half, Inter managed a response through Argentine striker Mauro Icardi who scored in the 83rd minute to bring the game within one. Late drama ensued after Sansone and Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin got into a scuffle resulting in a red card for Sansone. Inter’s hope for any points from the match was shattered when defender Donkor brought down Zaza in the penalty box, receiving his marching orders from the referee. Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi slotted the penalty past Handanovic, securing the win and moving them above the Nerazzurri.
Torino 5-1 Sampdoria:
Torino shocked Sampdoria in a 5-1 rout at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Led by a Fabio Quagliarella hat-trick, Torino managed a sound defeat of 4th place Sampdoria.
Torino came into this season with a completely changed roster after selling their star forwards Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile to Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund respectively. The duo led the club to a Europa League spot last season, completely shattering all expectation. Despite the success of the club only a year ago, they are currently languishing in mid-table. They signed ex-Juventus forwards Fabio Quagliarella and Amauri in order to replace Cerci and Immobile but they just haven’t been able to live up to their predecessors’ success. .
Sampdoria have had a highly successful season this year as they are currently in 4th place and in contention for either a Champions League or Europa League spot next season. The Blucerchiati have had unexpected success this season and seem to continue to do so after making a statement by buying ex-Inter forward Samuel Eto and ex-Udinese striker Luis Muriel.
Torino spoiled Eto’s first game in a Sampdoria jersey by completely dominating both halves. Quagliarella gave Torino a healthy 2-0 lead in the first half, putting the Granata in a solid position. Quagliarella completed his hat-trick in the second half while Amauri and Peres added two more to complete the rout. Sampdoria managed to score a late consolation goal from Obiang but it was already too late to change the match.
