Sassuolo claimed their second victory of the 2025/26 Serie A campaign with a confident 3-1 win over Udinese at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday, thanks to strikes from Armand Laurienté, Ismaël Koné, and substitute Edoardo Iannoni.
Keinan Davis provided the visitors’ only response.
Head coach Fabio Grosso made just one tweak from the side that lost 2-1 to Inter last week, while Udinese boss Kosta Runjaic handed 17-year-old Matteo Palma his league debut and restored Nicolò Zaniolo to the lineup.
The hosts wasted little time asserting themselves. Their front trio combined to deadly effect as Andrea Pinamonti’s flick released Domenico Berardi, who in turn threaded a perfect ball through for Laurienté to slot home from the left side of the box.
Moments later, Laurienté turned provider. The Frenchman fed Koné on the flank, and the Canadian midfielder danced into the area before beating goalkeeper Răzvan Sava with a precise finish from close range.
Udinese thought they had lifelines through the referee’s whistle, but VAR denied them twice.
First, Zaniolo tumbled under Laurienté’s challenge in the area, only for the decision to be overturned in Sassuolo’s favour.
Then, just before halftime, Oumar Solet’s claims for a penalty against Sebastian Walukiewicz were dismissed after another lengthy check.
The visitors did find a way back 10 minutes after the restart. Arthur Atta’s low drive was spilled by Andrea Muric, leaving Davis to pounce and halve the deficit with the simplest of tap-ins.
But Sassuolo would not be denied. With time running out, Alieu Fadera’s clever hold-up play and teasing cross found Iannoni, who powered home a header to seal the points and restore the two-goal cushion.
The result lifts Sassuolo into 12th place in the Serie A table, just one point shy of Udinese in 10th, though both sides could see their standings shift as Sunday’s matches unfold.
