Sassuolo finally got off the mark this season, clinching their first points thanks to Alieu Fadera’s close-range finish in a 1-0 victory over an injury-hit Lazio.
The Neroverdi, promoted as Serie B champions, had stumbled out of the gate with defeats to Napoli and Cremonese, but began to steady themselves with Ismael Kone returning from suspension, though Laurs Skjellerup remained unavailable.
Lazio arrived on the back of a 4-0 demolition of Verona, yet were without Matias Vecino, Manuel Lazzari and Patric. Alessio Romagnoli returned after suspension, while Nicolò Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni both featured despite recent fitness concerns.
The game sparked controversy on 25 minutes when Aster Vranckx was initially dismissed for a rash challenge on Rovella, only for VAR to intervene and reduce the punishment to a booking, as contact had been made lower than first thought.
Moments later, Andrea Pinamonti tested Ivan Provedel at the near post, while penalty appeals for Armand Laurienté were waved away after a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Adam Marusic.
Lazio’s worries deepened when Rovella limped off before the break, replaced by Danilo Cataldi, who later fired wide early in the second half.
To make matters worse, striker Taty Castellanos was forced off with a thigh problem.
The visitors nearly found a breakthrough on the hour mark, Zaccagni’s diving header from Matteo Guendouzi’s cross drawing a stunning reflex stop from Arijanet Muric.
Marusic’s intervention then denied Fadera a one-on-one, but Sassuolo soon found their reward. From a corner, Tarik Muharemovic nodded the ball down, and it ricocheted off Fadera’s knee from point-blank range to beat Provedel. Lazio’s appeals for offside were dismissed, with Zaccagni playing him onside.
Pedro dragged a chance wide, Muric thwarted Boulaye Dia, and substitute Gustav Isaksen made his first appearance of the season after illness, but Lazio’s hopes faded.
In stoppage time, Mario Gila twice went close from corners, first heading over the bar, then seeing a late effort scrambled clear off the line.
Sassuolo held on for a morale-boosting 1-0 win, while Fadera capped a memorable week after netting his maiden international goal for Gambia.
