Sassuolo vs. Inter, the latest

MILAN - After their midweek Champions League showdown against Real Madrid, Inter are set to return to the pitch to play their ninth Serie A fixture of the season: at 15:00 CET on Saturday, Sassuolo vs. Inter will be played at the Mapei Stadium.

Antonio Conte's men will head into the match following a 4-2 win against Torino in the league and Wednesday's defeat to Real. On Tuesday 1 December, the Nerazzurri will return to Champions League action when they face Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany.

A TRIBUTE TO MARADONA: THE INITIATIVES TO REMEMBER A GREAT

It’ll be a special weekend in Serie A, with a series of initiatives planned to pay tribute to Diego Armando Maradona, who passed away on Wednesday. Before Inter’s match against Real Madrid, a moving minute’s silence was held to remember the Argentine champion.

Ahead of the matches throughout the country, the famous video of Maradona getting ready for a European match against Bayern Munich in 1989 to the tune of “Live is life” will be displayed on the big screens at the various stadiums as all the teams warm up.

Furthermore, every Serie A side will take to the pitch wearing a commemorative armband, while there will also be a minute’s silence prior to every match, during which a photo of Maradona will be projected alongside the message “Ciao Diego”.

On the ten-minute mark of every single game on matchday nine in Serie A, a photo of Diego Armando Maradona will once again be shown for one minute, the final tribute to a true legend.

THE TABLE AND STATE OF PLAY 

After eight matchdays, Sassuolo sit in second on 18 points: De Zerbi's side have started in fine form, winning five, drawing three, scoring 20 and conceding nine. Inter, meanwhile are fifth with 15 points (four wins, three draws, one defeat): the Nerazzurri have scored 20 and conceded 13. 

Sassuolo's last five matches Hellas Verona 0-2 Sassuolo  Sassuolo 0-0 Udinese  Napoli 0-2 Sassuolo  Sassuolo 3-3 Torino  Bologna 3-4 Sassuolo 

Inter's last five matches Inter 0-2 Real Madrid  Inter 4-2 Torino  Atalanta 1-1 Inter  Real Madrid 3-2 Inter  Inter 2-2 Parma 

THE LEAGUE TABLE

DE ZERBI'S WORDS

"Inter are a great side, one of the strongest in Italy. We’re trying to achieve something more than what had been expected of us. We’ll play as we usually do: with courage and the desire to take the game to our opponents. There will be moments when we’ll have to defend, but I hope there will be more moments when we’re on the ball. We’ll need to be precise in order to cause Inter problems.”

SASSUOLO'S SITUATION: CAPUTO AND DEFREL BOTH OUT

Roberto De Zerbi has called up 24 players for Sassuolo's match against Inter. Caputo and Defrel won't be involved, nor will Romagna, Ricci and Haraslin. Chiriches, Djuricic and Berardi have all been named in the Neroverdi squad.

Goalkeepers: 47 Andrea CONSIGLI, 56 Gianluca PEGOLO, 63 Stefano TURATIDefenders: 2 MARLON, 5 Kaan AYHAN, 6 ROGERIO, 13 Federico PELUSO, 17 Mert MÜLDÜR, 21 Vlad CHIRICHES, 22 Jeremy TOLJAN, 31 Gian Marco FERRARI, 77 Giorgos KYRIAKOPOULOSMidfielders: 4 Francesco MAGNANELLI, 8 Maxime LOPEZ, 10 Filip DJURICIC, 14 Pedro OBIANG, 23 Junior TRAORE, 68 Mehdi BOURABIA, 73 Manuel LOCATELLIForwards: 7 Jeremie BOGA, 18 Giacomo RASPADORI, 25 Domenico BERARDI, 30 Briansafo ODDEI, 91 Nicolas SCHIAPPACASSE

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

The two teams have met 14 times in Serie A, with the Nerazzurri’s record against Sassuolo reading as follows: five wins, two draws, seven defeats. In seven matches at the Mapei Stadium, the teams have never played out a draw: there have been four home wins and three Nerazzurri victories.

The stats ahead of the game

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Irrati.Assistants: Fiorito, Baccini.Fourth Official: Ghersini.VAR: Chiffi.VAR Assistant: Valeriani.