Sassuolo vs Juventus: Injury Struggles and Key Players

Juventus arrive in Emilia-Romagna bruised, patched up and still unbeaten in Serie A. Sassuolo, sitting 10th and quietly dangerous, see an opportunity.

The two sides meet on 13 September 2026 at 19:45, with the visitors already juggling a mini‑injury crisis and the hosts trying to turn a promising start into something more substantial.

Sassuolo’s balance against Juve’s problems

Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo are far from full strength themselves. Fali Candé, Ismael Koné, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Daniel Boloca, Yeferson Paz, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Cristian Volpato and Darryl Bakola are all out injured. No suspensions, no safety net.

Even so, the structure looks clear. Arijanet Muric is expected to start in goal, shielded by a back four of Fedde Leysen, Jay Idzes, Josh Doig and Simone Cinquegrano. In front of them, Nemanja Matic’s experience should anchor midfield alongside Vasilije Adžić, giving Sassuolo a solid core.

From there, they can hurt you. Kieron Bowie, Sebastiano Esposito and Armand Laurienté are set to operate behind the attack, offering legs, invention and direct running. At home, against a wounded Juventus, that trio suddenly becomes the key to the whole night.

On the other bench, Luciano Spalletti has a selection puzzle that looks more like a medical report. Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram, Kenan Yildiz, Juan Cabal, Weston McKennie, Arkadiusz Milik, Jeremie Boga and Jeff Ekhator are all unavailable. That’s a spine, a bench and most of his flexibility gone in one sweep.

Guglielmo Vicario is expected to start in goal, with a defensive line of Jhon Lucumí, Gleison Bremer, Mehmet Zeki Çelik and Pierre Kalulu. It’s still a strong unit on paper, but there is no disguising how stretched the squad has become higher up the pitch.

Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, Nico González, Kerim Alajbegovic and Chico Conceição are all set to work around and behind Randal Kolo Muani, who again carries the goalscoring burden. Pape Matar Sarr has been edging back towards fitness and could add crucial midfield cover if he is finally passed fit. Juventus may need every minute he can give them.

Form lines that don’t tell the whole story

Sassuolo’s recent numbers hint at a team that can live with anyone on their day. Two wins, a draw and a defeat in their last four competitive games, plus a Coppa Italia victory over Cesena, give Aquilani something solid to build on.

They drew 2-2 away at Bologna last time out, showing resilience and enough punch to stay in a chaotic game. Before that, they edged Torino 2-1 in their previous Serie A home match. Across their last five fixtures they have scored eight and conceded six, a profile that screams openness and ambition. The only league loss in that run came against Atalanta, which is hardly a disaster in the current Serie A landscape.

Juventus’ form looks cleaner, but not quite dominant. Two wins and two draws in their last four competitive outings, with the only defeat coming in a pre-season friendly against Inter. In the league, they have done the job: wins away at Frosinone and Parma, followed by a 1-1 draw with AC Milan.

Four goals scored, two conceded in three Serie A matches. A clean sheet on the opening day at Frosinone set the tone defensively, yet the attacking numbers still feel a touch restrained for a side with Juventus’ ambition. That’s where the absentees start to bite.

A rivalry with recent bite

The recent history between these two adds a layer of edge. Their last meeting, at the Allianz Stadium in March 2026, finished 1-1. Before that, Juventus cruised to a 3-0 win at Sassuolo in January 2026.

Across the last five Serie A clashes between the clubs, Juventus have three wins and Sassuolo have two. No draws in that stretch until March, 11 goals shared in total, and a pattern of games that rarely drift quietly to full time.

Sassuolo know they can hurt Juventus. Juventus know they cannot stroll through this fixture.

Table pressure already in play

The standings sharpen the context. Sassuolo sit 10th, steady and dangerous, with room to climb if they can turn performances into points against the division’s heavyweights.

Juventus, in sixth, are unbeaten but not yet fully convincing. With injuries stacking up and the season still young, dropping points here would crank up the scrutiny on how deep and adaptable this squad really is.

For a depleted Juventus, this is the kind of early-season away day that can either harden a title challenge or expose the cracks. Which version walks out of Emilia-Romagna on Saturday night?