Sassuolo come into this one with a spring in their step. Under Alberto Aquilani they've built something real — an expansive 4-3-3 that loves to stretch the pitch and hit on the break. Recent results show a side that can hurt anyone on their day: that 2-1 over Atalanta in November, the 3-0 demolition in Bergamo back in 2024 — they're not scared of the big boys. The new season started with a cup run and a league opener that had pundits talking about their attacking talent. Kieron Bowie, the new striker, has already got his name on the scoresheet. That's a player finding his feet fast.

Torino, meanwhile, are a different beast. Ignazio Abate, the former Rossoneri man, has them in a 3-4-2-1 — solid, organised, hard to break down. But their recent form is patchy. They lost to Sassuolo 2-1 back in April, and that defeat will sting. They've got quality — Goncalo Ramos arriving as a club-record buy shows ambition — but integrating new faces takes time. On the road, Torino can be passive, happy to sit in and nick something. That's a dangerous game to play against a Sassuolo side that smells blood at home.

Momentum is with the hosts. Aquilani's men have that swagger you need in front of your own fans. Torino will be organised, sure, but they're still gelling. This is the perfect time to catch them.