Primavera: Sassuolo 1-1 Atalanta

As the "Ricci" stadium clash against the reigning champions culminated in a 1-1 draw, MD2 of the 2024/25 Primavera 1 TIM saw coach Bosi's Nerazzurri claim the first point of the new season at the end of a football galore filled with thrills and goal chances from both sides. Back on target, Riccio opened the scoring in the first half.

Throwing caution and any undue delay to the wind, the two teams started fencing right after kick-off: while Torriani had to spring into action to smother a headed finish following a corner kick situation on 5 minutes, Atalanta's retaliation was not long in coming as Riccio saw his angled right-footed drive hiss slightly off-target. The Nerazzurro had another go in the 14th minute, almost skimming the post after a swift give-and-go in close quarters. 37 minutes on the stopwatch and then came Capac who finished too high after leaving two defenders in the dust. Third time was the charm for Riccio, with the Atalanta striker breaking the deadlock in the 42nd after taking full advantage of Maffessoli's left-flanked cross with a cynical finish to extend his scoring spree.

Sassuolo levelled the game right after the start of the second act thanks to Knezovic, who managed to cleave the ball right into the top corner. The Nerazzurri had the chance to turn it around on 57 minutes, when Riccio burst into the box with the right timing but saw his finish negated by Scacchetti. Minute 61st meant another key situation for coach Bosi's lads thanks to the Capac-Camara duo: despite reading his teammate's tell well and finding the right opening, the black-and-blue striker was eventually denied in the one-on-one with the opposing keeper. A catch 22 almost deceived the Nerazzurri on 70 minutes when Corradini missed the target from very close range following the corner kick taken by Bruno. In the 78th minute it was Ramaj who trod waters as his ranged finish ended up slightly wide to the side. As the Nerazzurri's pressing raged on, Corradini had his work cut out for to deny Riccio with a great goalkeeping display. Riccio struck once again on 81 minutes with a fireball from a good scoring position,once again smothered by Scacchetti. The black-and-blue midfielder didn't throw in the towel and had another go 4 minutes later, with the ball missing the target by inches. On 89 minutes it fell on Torriani to up the ante with a great save to deny Lopes' left-footed scoarcher from outside the box. The black-and-blue keeper stood his ground once again in the 94th and thwarted a powerful finish from Mussini. While the hosts threatened in the 95th, when Bruno's finesse shot ended up high over the bar, the Nerazzurri had the very last chance of the game, eventually defused by Scacchetti. Spoils where thus shared at the Riccio stadium.

SASSUOLO 1-1 ATALANTA

Scorer(s): Riccio 42 (A), Knezovic 46 (S)

Sassuolo: Scacchetti, Macchioni, Knezovic (Moriano 69), Leone (Minta 87), Daldum (Sandro 69), Weiss (Mussini 75), Lopes, Bruno, Corradini, Barani (T. Benvenuti 75), Parlato. Unused subs: Vigano, G. Benvenuti, Tomsa, Sibilano, Frangella, Vedovati. Coach: Emiliano Bigica:

Atalanta: Torriani, Ghezzi, Riccio, Capac (Baldo 69), Gariani (Simonetto 75), Steffanoni, Bonsignori Goggi (Armstrong 75), Camara, Ramaj, Maffessoli, Tornaghi. A Unused subs: Sala, Gobbo, Simonetto, Martinelli, Mencaraglia, Mensah, Mungari, Artesani, Bilać. Coach: Giovanni Bosi.

Referee: Edoardo Manedo Mazzoni from Prato (assistant referees: Leonardo Tesi from Padova and Marco Roncari from Vicenza).

Notes: Knezovic (S) and Barani (S) booked.