2020 has been a truly remarkable year.<\/p>\n
As if to support that point, Sassuolo<\/a> are almost the<\/em> perfect footballing metaphor.<\/p>\n After eight games of the 2020\/21 Serie A<\/a> campaign, the Neroverdi are experiencing something of a Black and Green nosebleed.<\/p>\n Approaching a potentially pivotal game at home to Inter Milan<\/a> this weekend, Sassuolo sit second in the table<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last Sunday, temporarily, Sassuolo went top following their latest impressive win<\/a>, away to a stubborn Verona.<\/p>\n This small-town club is changing the landscape of Italian football.<\/p>\n A commune in Emilia-Romagna with a population of around 40,000 people, it is, however, a son of neighbouring Lombardy, that is putting Sassuolo on the map.<\/p>\n Enter Roberto De Zerbi<\/a>.<\/p>\n After two years in charge of a club celebrating its centenary year this season, the 41-year-old former AC Milan<\/a> midfielder, is raising more than a few eyebrows.<\/p>\n Despite his recent success, however, De Zerbi has seen both sides of fortune.<\/p>\n A former boss of both Palermo and Benevento, the latter were relegated back down to Serie B under his guidance in 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n But his methods of possession-based play – and also his transfer business concluded – had already caught the eye.<\/p>\n Taking charge of the Neroverdi shortly after that season ended, all eyes now gaze to Sassuolo.<\/p>\n With just seven years in Serie A under their belts, Sassuolo have already dipped their toes in the Europa League<\/a> pool during 2016.<\/p>\n The past two seasons, however, have seen the Italian outfit not only rise the standings but do so in an exuberant manner.<\/p>\n Housed within Reggio Emilia’s MAPEI Stadium, Sassuolo have built on the strides made by Atalanta in recent years.<\/p>\n Finishing 11th in their first season<\/a> under De Zerbi – like the 2017\/18<\/a> campaign – it was last term<\/a> where the seeds of transformation began to bloom.<\/p>\n With an existing attack fronted by Domenico Berardi<\/a>, De Zerbi eyed the perfect additions.<\/p>\n Namely, the frugal recruitment of Chelsea<\/a>‘s Jeremie Boga<\/a> and Filip Djuricic<\/a> from Sampdoria<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was, however, the arrival from Empoli of veteran Francesco Caputo<\/a> in July 2019, that has made Sassuolo a force.<\/p>\n Holding Juventus<\/a> to draws both home and away last term, De Zerbi’s men were becoming prolific in front of goal.<\/p>\n His side scored 69 goals<\/a> in that campaign.<\/p>\n In Caputo, not only did the striker finish the campaign with 21 goals<\/a>, but both Boga<\/a> and Berardi<\/a> also produced double-figure tallies.<\/p>\n On the back of an eighth-placed finish last season, this term has been the platform for a surprise attempt on the summit.<\/p>\n The new season has brought an unprecedented unbeaten<\/a> run for Sassuolo.<\/p>\n Not only that, but the goals have continued to flow, with all three of Berardi, Caputo and Djuricic regulars on the score-sheet.<\/p>\n Berardi in particular, in his eighth year with the club, is enjoying his best form of his career.<\/p>\n Caputo meanwhile has earned his first caps<\/a> for Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Such as Sassuolo become the great entertainers this term, La Dea’s mantle looks to have been handed over.<\/p>\n Following the damage left by Covid-19 pandemic in Emilia-Romagna, Sassuolo have looked a different and more resilient side.<\/p>\n Though just four strikes have come in the last three, a superbly masterminded 2-0 win<\/a> away to Napoli<\/a> by De Zerbi, highlighted his growing credentials.<\/p>\n The case was similar in Verona this past weekend, winning by the same scoreline.<\/p>\n Now not only has the attack been a case for the defence, but for De Zerbi, his back line also.<\/p>\n Most notably, Kaan Ayhan<\/a>, who has been a shrewd addition from relegated Bundesliga<\/a> side Fortuna Dusseldorf.<\/p>\n This season, Sassuolo have become the toast of the continent, but now starts the hard work.<\/p>\n Under-fire Antonio Conte’s Inter step up as the latest obstacle this weekend in a mouth-watering clash.<\/p>\n Even after that, however, a trip to Rome and then plucky Benevento lie ahead in the coming month, before a potential blockbuster with AC Milan on December 20, 2020.<\/p>\n For a club of such relative humble roots, the move toward the top of the Serie A standings has been nothing short of a revelation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Main PhotoSassuolo’s Rise Driven by Roberto De Zerbi<\/h2>\n
De Zerbi Influence<\/h3>\n
Neroverdi Rise<\/h3>\n
Caputo Arrival<\/h3>\n
Goals and Grit<\/h3>\n
Strong Test to Come<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>