Preview:Sassuolo vs Catanzaro - prediction, team news, lineups

Ahead of making their top-flight return next week, Sassuolo will get up and running for 2025-26 when they host Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia on Friday.

After winning Italy’s second tier last season, the Neroverdi are just days away from kicking off their Serie A campaign, but first they must navigate a first-round tie in the cup.

Match preview

Less than a year after Sassuolo’s long Serie A stay was finally brought to an end, as they failed to address a leaky defence and slipped through the relegation trapdoor, the Emilian side cruised back into Calcio’s top tier in May.

Spearheading their attempt to bounce straight back, former Lyon coach and 2006 World Cup winner Fabio Grosso led a squad featuring several stars that were persuaded to stay on despite slipping down to Serie B.

Main man Domenico Berardi remained in Reggio Emilia after overcoming a serious injury, while French winger Armand Lauriente also stuck around to help secure a swift return - Sassuolo ultimately finished first by a six-point margin.

During their preparations for the upcoming campaign, Grosso’s men faced Real Vicenza, Trento, Bologna and Sudtirol in July, before finishing with back-to-back friendly draws against Empoli and Brest.

Now, one week before hosting Scudetto holders Napoli, the Neroverdi start their latest journey in the Coppa Italia, having reached the last 16 in 2024-25 before losing 6-1 to AC Milan.

Few teams toppled Sassuolo at Mapei Stadium last term, but Catanzaro managed to do so on Serie B’s penultimate matchday, winning 2-0 there in early May.

The southern side then went on to enter the playoffs for a second straight year, but they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Spezia - losing both home and away.

Fabio Caserta's side had finished sixth in the regular season, proving themselves particularly tough to defeat on the road, having lost just five away matches.

Like Friday’s hosts, Catanzaro are now managed by a former Italy international, as Alberto Aquilani took the reins from Caserta last month.

The ex-Liverpool midfielder will start by leading the Calabrian club to Reggio Emilia, aiming to improve on last year's first-round cup exit at the hands of Empoli.

Coppa Italia finalists way back in 1966, Catanzaro have rarely reached the latter stages since, but victory this week would set up a second-round clash with either Sudtirol or big-spending Como.

Sassuolo pre-season form: L L W L D D

Catanzaro pre-season form: L W

Team News

While Armand Lauriente is still expected to depart - despite the collapse of his move to Sunderland - Sassuolo have been busy bringing in fresh faces, and several could feature on Friday evening.

A deal to sign Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has come too late, but Torino loanee Sebastian Walukiewicz and Marseille-owned midfielder Ismael Kone are among the options available to Fabio Grosso.

Apparently set for a return home to Brazil, centre-back Ruan Tressoldi may miss out with a minor knee injury.

Meanwhile, Catanzaro recently confirmed the exciting capture of Milan primavera product Mattia Liberali; they have also picked up Patrick Nuamah on loan from Sassuolo, so the latter could play against his parent club.

Having found the net 16 times in Serie B last term - and scored against Napoli in a recent friendly - captain Pietro Iemmello should start up front for the Giallorossi.

Sassuolo possible starting lineup: Satalino; Walukiewicz, Romagna, Muharemovic, Doig; Lipani, Kone, Ghion; Berardi, Pinamonti, Volpato

Catanzaro possible starting lineup: Pigliacelli; Antonini, Bettella, Frosinini, Verrengia; Biasci, Pontisso, Pompetti; Nuamah, Iemmello, D'Alessandro

We say: Sassuolo 3-1 Catanzaro

Even if Grosso plays some of his squad players - with one eye on Sassuolo's tough Serie A opener - the hosts should have sufficient quality and application to see off Catanzaro.

A possible clash with Como would await the Neroverdi in round two, and they will expect to get the job done.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.