In a frantic first half, Udinese found the opener after less than 30 seconds, when Destiny Udogie drilled home a well-struck first-time strike to send the Dacia Arena into raptures, before most supporters had even taken to their seats. However, the Spurs loanees’ third league goal of the season would count for little, as just five minutes later Matheus Henrique netted Sassuolo’s first leveller of the half. Helped into the net by a healthy deflection, the 25-year-old midfielder arrived late onto a cutback, before restoring parity for the visitors in the process.
Frustration for Udinese manager Andrea Sottil, who had entered the clash in the knowledge that anything but three points would constitute his side’s worst winless run since 2021. Any qualms the Italian coach may have had looked to be put to bed before the break, when Jaka Bijol’s close-range effort fired the home side back in front once again. Yet, as had been the case earlier in the half, a lapse in defence would cost Udinese their advantage, with a Nehuén Pérez own goal gifting Sassuolo another equaliser just seconds before the referee’s half-time whistle.
While the goals may have dried up in the second period, the end-to-end nature of the contest remained, with both sides threatening to take the lead throughout the half. Firstly for Sassuolo, with Nedim Bajrami’s right-footed strike from the edge of the box whistling past the far-right corner, before at the opposite end, Sandi Lovric’s curling effort forcing a sharp save from Andrea Consigli in the visitors’ goal. However, neither side were able to show the clinical edge they had done regularly in the first period.
Ultimately though, it’s yet another disappointing result for the side from Udine, whose dropoff since posting their best-ever start to a Serie A campaign continues to plague any European hopes they may have had. Sassuolo will undoubtedly leave the Dacia Arena the happier of the two sides, with the Neroverdi now unbeaten in their last four league outings - their joint-longest run of the campaign so far.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nedim Bajrami (Sassuolo)
