Planning to see Sassuolo - Torino in Serie A? Prepare your football trip to Mapei Stadium in Reggio nell'Emilia and plan your ticket purchase in good time. Review the match context, key players, tactical points, stadium access and practical details for a smoother matchday
Sassuolo - Torino: an early test for two teams with new coaches
Sassuolo and Torino meet in Reggio nell'Emilia in the 2nd round of Serie A 2026/2027, in a match that comes very early in the season but can already show how quickly the two teams have adapted to their new coaches. Alberto Aquilani took over Sassuolo during the summer, while Torino was entrusted to Ignazio Abate. Both arrived on June 12, and Abate is under contract with Torino until June 30, 2028.
As of August 20, the league season has not yet started, so the table carries no real weight: Sassuolo first travel to Atalanta, while Torino host Milan. Their head-to-head meeting will therefore be only the second league test, after one round in which impressions can change very quickly.
Last season nevertheless provides a useful framework. Sassuolo finished 11th with 49 points, while Torino were immediately behind them, in 12th place with 45 points. The difference was not large, but the way their head-to-head matches ended was clear: Torino won both encounters.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, especially because it is Sassuolo's first home league appearance of the new season.
Form before the start of the league
The clearest indicator of current form comes from the first competitive cup matches. Sassuolo defeated Cesena 3-0 at Mapei Stadium. Cristian Volpato opened the scoring, Vasilije Adžić doubled the lead before the break, and Luca Lipani set the final score in the second half. Aquilani's team started in a 4-3-3 formation, with Nemanja Matić in midfield and Volpato and Armand Laurienté on the wings.
Torino won their first competitive appearance under Abate 1-0 against Carrarese. Giovanni Simeone scored the winning goal in the 8th minute. Abate started with a 3-4-2-1 system, with Marcus Pedersen and Alessio Cacciamani on the flanks and Nikola Vlašić behind Simeone.
Those two results should not be overestimated, but they provide several useful signals:
- Sassuolo scored three goals through three different scorers in their first competitive match.
- Volpato and Adžić immediately showed that they can carry part of the creative burden.
- Torino started under Abate with three centre-backs and high-positioned wing-backs.
- Simeone found the net in the very first competitive match of the season.
For both teams, however, what happens in the 1st round will be more important. Sassuolo enter this match after a demanding away game at Atalanta, while Torino play at home against Milan a few days earlier. Those matches will provide the first real answer as to how ready the new ideas are for Serie A level.
Aquilani changes Sassuolo, but the key pillars remain familiar
Alberto Aquilani took over the team after the previous season in which Sassuolo finished in mid-table. His first competitive line-up showed a desire for technically clean build-up play and a large number of players between the lines.
In the victory against Cesena, Nemanja Matić played an important role as an experienced anchor in midfield, while Adžić and Darryl Bakola played ahead of him. On the wings, Volpato and Laurienté constantly looked for one-on-one space. This is a structure that can give Sassuolo greater control, but against Torino's system with five players in the back line when defending, it will be particularly important how quickly the hosts can switch the side of attack.
Domenico Berardi and Andrea Pinamonti remain the two most recognisable attacking names in the squad. Berardi is the captain, while Pinamonti offers a more traditional presence in the penalty area. Their role against Torino will also depend on the distribution of minutes in the first round and on Aquilani's choice between continuity from the cup match and bringing more experienced players back into the starting line-up.
Sassuolo also have an important confirmed absence in midfield. Ismaël Koné underwent surgery in June after fracturing his left leg and is going through rehabilitation. Fali Candé also underwent surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee in January. Their status shows why Aquilani often had to combine experience with younger players during the summer.
Torino under Abate: three centre-backs, active flanks and Simeone as the finishing point
Ignazio Abate began his tenure with a very recognisable structure. Against Carrarese, Torino played 3-4-2-1. Saúl Coco was at the centre of the three centre-backs, alongside Pietro Comuzzo and Eray Cömert, while Pedersen and Cacciamani provided the width.
In midfield, Kian Fitz-Jim and Gvidas Gineitis connected the defence with the attacking line, while Cesare Casadei and Nikola Vlašić moved behind Simeone. Such an arrangement can create several problems for Sassuolo. If the home full-backs push high, Torino can look for space behind them. If Sassuolo stay deeper, Vlašić and Casadei can receive the ball between the lines.
Simeone is particularly interesting ahead of this match. Not only because he scored against Carrarese, but also because he was on target in Torino's 2-1 victory against Sassuolo in May. In that match, Torino came from behind after Sassuolo had taken the lead, and Marcus Pedersen scored the second goal.
Torino also have a change among the goalkeepers. Franco Israel underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 16, so Diego Mascardi played in goal in the cup match against Carrarese. This is a detail worth monitoring in the opening league rounds because the choice of goalkeeper affects the way Torino build attacks from the back line.
Head-to-head meetings: Torino took all six points last season
Sassuolo have a very clear reason for additional caution. Torino beat them in both league meetings of the 2025/2026 season.
The first match at Mapei Stadium ended 0-1. The second was played in Turin in May and ended 2-1 for the hosts. Sassuolo took the lead through Kristian Thorstvedt, but Simeone and Pedersen turned the result around.
That does not mean the same pattern can simply be carried over into the new season. Both clubs changed coaches, while the squads underwent changes during the summer. Nevertheless, an important fact for Sassuolo is that, in front of their home crowd, they will try to end a losing run against an opponent who knew how to punish their weaknesses in transitions and in the closing stages of matches last season.
Where the match could be decided
The most interesting tactical battle could take place on the flanks. With players such as Doig, Laurienté, Volpato and Berardi, Sassuolo have the quality to create one-on-one situations. Torino, on the other hand, can use their 3-4-2-1 to close down the width with a wing-back and an outside centre-back before quickly moving forward.
Another important area will be the space in front of Sassuolo's centre-backs. Vlašić is a player who does not have to remain constantly in one line. He can drop to receive the ball, move between the midfielders and centre-backs or open space for Simeone. If Sassuolo press Torino aggressively, the home midfield will have to control the first loose balls after losing possession very well.
For Torino, the response to Sassuolo's technical quality in midfield will be equally important. Matić can slow down or accelerate the tempo, while younger players such as Lipani and Adžić provide energy and verticality. Sassuolo showed against Cesena that they do not depend on a single goalscorer, which makes Abate's defensive preparation more difficult.
Key individuals to watch
- Cristian Volpato - scored Sassuolo's first goal of the competitive season and moves well into the half-spaces from the right.
- Domenico Berardi - captain and the most experienced creative pillar of Sassuolo's attack.
- Giovanni Simeone - has already scored in Torino's first competitive match and was also on target against Sassuolo in May.
- Nikola Vlašić - important for receiving the ball between the lines and connecting the midfield with Simeone.
- Marcus Pedersen - a wide player who scored the winning goal against Sassuolo in May and has plenty of room for attacking runs in Abate's system.
Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore
Sassuolo play their home matches in Reggio nell'Emilia, not in the city of Sassuolo. Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore is located in the northern part of Reggio nell'Emilia and has been the club's home since the 2013/2014 season.
The arrangement of the stands gives a good sense of the size of the venue: Tribuna Ovest has 5,137 seats, Tribuna Est 6,573, Tribuna Sud 5,000, while Tribuna Nord, intended for away supporters, has 4,000. The pitch measures 105 x 68 metres.
For a supporter visiting for the first time, it is more important to know that the stadium is relatively well connected to city transport and the main roads. The club lists several options for getting there:
- From the main railway station, the stadium can be reached on foot via Piazzale Europa or by city bus line 5.
- For supporters arriving by car, the recommended route is exit 4 from Tangenziale Nord towards Via Morandi and Via Gramsci.
- Away supporters are advised to arrive from the A1 motorway via the Reggio Emilia exit.
- For the away section, the listed parking areas include Ente Fiera, Ex Braglia, I Petali and Via Felice Romano, depending on the ticket sector.
The exact opening time of the gates for Sassuolo - Torino has not been confirmed in the available information for this match. The safest option is to plan to arrive sufficiently early, especially when travelling by car, because access arrangements and parking organisation may be adjusted for each individual event.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the first home appearance of the season, a weekend fixture and travelling support from Turin come together, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
Reggio nell'Emilia as a base for matchday
Reggio nell'Emilia is located in Emilia-Romagna, between Parma and Modena, and the stadium is on the northern edge of the city. For visitors arriving by train, it is useful to know that the city has a main railway station in the centre and a separate Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana high-speed railway station on the northern side of the city.
If the only objective is the match, it is not necessary to drive deep into the city centre. For those staying longer, the city centre offers pedestrian squares and restaurants, while the stadium can be approached later by public transport or on foot from the direction of Piazzale Europa.
It is particularly important for Torino supporters to follow the traffic arrangements designated for the away section, because access routes and parking areas differ from those for the home crowd. This can save time immediately before the match and avoid unnecessary driving around the stadium.
What to check during the week of the match
By August 29, both teams will have played their first league round, and only then will it be possible to assess form, line-ups and any new absences more precisely. Particular attention should be paid to whether Aquilani keeps the 4-3-3 from the cup match or brings more experienced attacking players back into the starting line-up, and whether Abate sticks with the 3-4-2-1 he used against Carrarese.
It is also worth monitoring Torino's goalkeeper situation, the status of Sassuolo players returning from longer-term problems, and the final instructions for entry and parking. At this early stage of the season, such details often have more practical value than the table, which after only one round still does not provide a firm picture of the balance of power.
Ticket sales for this match are underway. For supporters planning the trip, the most useful approach is to coordinate the purchase of the ticket with transport and the stadium sector, especially if they are coming from outside Reggio nell'Emilia.
Sources:
- Lega Serie A - Sassuolo's schedule for the 2026/2027 season, the final 2025/2026 table and the report from the Torino - Sassuolo 2-1 match.
- U.S. Sassuolo Calcio - appointment of Alberto Aquilani, 3-0 victory against Cesena, medical reports for Ismaël Koné and Fali Candé, and information about Mapei Stadium, the stands, transport and parking.
- Torino FC - appointment of Ignazio Abate, 1-0 victory against Carrarese, the starting 3-4-2-1 system and the report on Franco Israel's surgery.
- ESPN - result of Sassuolo - Torino 0-1 from December 2025.
- DAZN Italia - current squads, player roles and the tactical framework of Sassuolo and Torino ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
- FotMob and Goal Italia - current injury lists and player statuses checked ahead of the start of the league.