Serie A | Sassuolo 1-0 Lazio: Fadera gets Grosso off the mark against stuttering Aquile

SASSUOLO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Alieu Fadera of US Sassuolo celebrates an opening goal with his team mates during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and SS Lazio at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on September 14, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Sassuolo got their first points of the campaign, as Alieu Fadera’s tap-in from close range allowed them to defeat a Lazio side with growing injury problems.

The hosts won the Serie B title last season, but had a dismal start here, losing both games to Napoli and Cremonese. Laurs Skjellerup was still out of action, though Ismael Kone returned from suspension. The Aquile thrashed Verona 4-0, but missed Matias Vecino, Manuel Lazzari and Patric. Alessio Romagnoli got his season debut after a two-match ban, with Nicolò Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni starting despite muscular issues on international duty.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

There was controversy after 25 minutes when the referee flashed a straight red card for Aster Vranckx as he went into a high tackle on Rovella in the centre-circle. However, following a VAR On-Field Review, he downgraded his decision to a yellow card, as it was on the foot and certainly not the ankle.

Andrea Pinamonti forced the first save of the match moments later, breaking down the right for an angled drive parried by Ivan Provedel’s foot at the near post.

Sassuolo had penalty appeals rejected when Armand Laurienté went down too easily shoulder to shoulder with Adam Marusic.

Rovella had been in doubt and failed to make it to half-time, limping off to be replaced by Danilo Cataldi.

It was Cataldi who drilled wide after the restart, while Taty Castellanos was spotted on the bench with an ice pack strapped to his thigh after a forced substitution.

Lazio thought they had scored on 62 minutes when Matteo Guendouzi whipped in a cross from the right for the Zaccagni diving header, but Arijanet Muric made an extraordinary reaction save from point-blank range.

Marusic made another decisive block to stop Alieu Fadera going clear, but Sassuolo did break the deadlock from a set play.

Tarik Muharemovic rose to nod down the corner kick, which hit Fadera on the knee to surprise Provedel from close range. Lazio appealed for offside, but Zaccagni was keeping him level. It finished off the perfect week for Fadera, who also scored his first international goal for Gambia.

Pedro came sliding in at the back post unable to keep the volley on target, while Muric stood tall against Boulaye Dia.

Gustav Isaksen made his season debut for Lazio after several weeks out with glandular fever, but Mario Gila wasted a golden opportunity to equalise in stoppages when steering a free header over from the Nuno Tavares corner.

The Aquile pushed to the end, but deep into stoppages Mario Gila’s attempted header on another corner was cleared almost off the line.

Sassuolo 1-0 Lazio

Fadera 70 (S)

49

21

3

6

46′

80

40

63′

90

18

99

81′

45

63′

10

81′

94

77

13

34

17

7

46′

8

80′

6

41′

22

60′

10

11

60′

19

12

11

13

42

24

44

77

5

35

46′

7

63′

20

63′

15

81′

81′

23

55

3

35

14

25

32

41′

21

46′

9

60′

19

60′

18

80′