Sassuolo heap misery on Bologna

Sassuolo have earned their first-ever Serie A victory this afternoon, with two early strikes proving enough to beat struggling Bologna at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore.

Both sides went into the match still searching for an opening win of the campaign but it was Sassuolo who started with confidence, winning a penalty kick inside 12 minutes.

Domenico Berardi won the spot kick after being blocked in the box by Andrea Mantovani, getting back to his feet to break the deadlock with an assured penalty.

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Things then got far worse for Bologna just five minutes later, falling further behind as a deflected Antonio Floro Flores swirled into the corner

Bologna were handed a lifeline 10 minutes from the break as the referee awarded a second spot kick, this time for the visitors after Jonathan Rossini pulled Cesare Natali's shirt.

Alessandro Diamanti smashed the spot kick under the crossbar, but the visitors were unable to build momentum after that strike.

Panagiotis Kone went closest to dragging the Rossoblu level after the interval, beating two players before sending a strike crashing off the far post.

Livorno rode their luck and held on to emerge victorious from the basement battle, heaping pressure on Bologna boss Stefano Pioli as his side slip to the bottom of Serie A.