Sassuolo had the best display in Serie A in the second round and only the late consolation goal by Fabio Quagliarella prevented them from getting a more substantial fantasy haul. The three teams that kept a clean sheet, Milan, Bologna and Verona, took home only narrow wins, while Parma got a great result in Udinese, but the Bianconeri had a lot of chances and they were deadly on their limited ones.
The Neroverdi cruised past Sampdoria, which are on the wrong end of this column for the second week in a row and have a lot of work on during the break. Help is on its way in the transfer market, but the ownership saga has been harmful.
Roberto De Zerbi pretty surprisingly confirmed the same scheme as the opener, where they lost to Torino: a diamond formation with Hamed Traore in the hole, Domenico Berardi back in the XI after a suspension and Jeremie Boga left on the bench to insert one more midfield. Federico Peluso filled in for the injured Rogerio and Mert Muldur was picked over Jeremy Toljan at right back.
The Blucerchiati had actually a better approach to the game and Andrea Consigli was called into action by by Fabio Quagliarella and Ronaldo Vieira in the early going, but the Emilians took half an hour to break the standstill and then only a half to solve the match.
The first goal was created by Francesco Caputo, who darted on the left flank after recovering a ball into his own half and ended his run with a pinpoint square ball for Berardi, left all alone in the heart of the box. Seven minutes later, Alfred Duncan picked him out with a long cross from the same wing and he headed it home. Berardi then took it upon himself for the third goal, as he put it in the right bottom corner with an lefty attempt from way downtown. To further facilitate things, Ronaldo Vieira was sent off just before half time for X-rated tackle.
Only the scorer changed after half time, as Traore slipped past the back-line on a through ball by Muldur and easily slotted it home. A soft penalty for a foul by Duncan on Albin Ekdal, then converted by Fabio Quagliarella, had more fantasy ramifications than tangible ones.
Berardi was top performer in Serie A in this round with his 14 points. Also receiving points were Traore, four for his goal, Duncan, who earned three because he was credited with two assists but also booked, and Caputo for setting up the first goal.
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