Sassuolo vs Cittadella

Mapei Stadium sets the stage for Sassuolo’s exciting Coppa Italia clash against fellow Serie B rivals Cittadella.

Sassuolo’s 10-year stint in Serie A ended last season as they finished second from bottom. Back to Serie B for the first time since 2012/13, ‘I Neroverdi’ embark on this chapter under new manager Fabio Grosso. Despite relinquishing their top-flight status, Sassuolo have kept hold of Domenico Berardi and Armand Lauriente, who should lead the charge for the Mapei outfit in their first encounter against Cittadella since 2014. Interestingly, the last meeting between the two sides was in this competition, with Sassuolo running out 4-1 victors to make it three consecutive H2H wins on home soil. Another success is on the cards, considering Grosso’s stellar work in pre-season, which had seen Sassuolo win their first five summer friendlies before drawing 2-2 against Monza.

On the other hand, Cittadella endured a troubled 2023/24 campaign, having had to settle for an underwhelming 14th-place finish in Serie B. With the pressure heightening on long-serving manager Edoardo Gorini, the visitors take this trip to beat the odds and register their first win against Sassuolo since 2012. Like their hosts, Gorini’s side enjoyed a near-flawless pre-season, claiming four wins in five summer friendlies (L1), with three of their four victories yielding at least a three-goal margin. However, Cittadella’s competitive away form casts a large shadow on their hopes of upsetting the apple cart at Mapei, with the Maroons managing just one win on ten road trips in 2024 (W1, D3, L6).