Three to Watch: Familiar faces orchestrate Sassuolo threat

Roma face Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening. The Giallorossi return to league action following last week’s dismissal from European competition, taking on Eusebio Di Francesco’s Neroverdi.

While the ex-Romanista hasn’t been able to get the most out of his squad this season, they are no short of potential.

Luciano Spalletti’s side will be aided by the return of Kostas Manolas after serving last week’s suspension, while the tactician from Abruzzo is missing four key players. A manager who is not shy to attack, he learned his trade under the tutelage of Zdenek Zeman – yet is coming off the back of a derby defeat against Bologna.

With nothing to lose from 15th place, our columnist believes these three players will be pressing for all three points…

Lorenzo Pellegrini

After enjoying his youth career as captain of Roma’s highly successful Primavera squad in 2014, the 20-year-old midfielder signed for Sassuolo in order to develop his professional career.

This season, Pellegrini has become a hot topic of Serie A – contributed by his spirited and well-rounded performances at such a young age. Having scored five goals, he has also created four assists – proving his game as capable and balanced.

At 1.86 metres tall, his size is aided by his strength, being a difficult adversary to dispossess. A player confident with both feet, one of his most vital tools is his ability to distribute passes from deep in his side’s line, of which he does twice per game on average.

With his career shining brightly ahead of him, Pellegrini’s destiny rests in his hands. There is no doubt that he will be looking for a big match to display everything he’s learned in just over a year.

Francesco Acerbi

It has been just three years since the centre-back has been cancer free – a battle that nearly took his life – yet Acerbi has proved himself to be one of the most capable defenders in the league.

After shuffling throughout Italian football earlier in his career, and then onto loan spells at Milan and Chievo Verona, the 29-year-old is enjoying one of his finest seasons to date.

While he has earned three interceptions and converted one and a half tackles, Acerbi has been almost impenetrable in the air – winning well over six aerial duels per match.

While the rest of the defence has shown its flaws, Spalletti will be keen on finding routes to goal around the defender, rather than through him.

Matteo Politano

After winning the 2012 Coppa Italia Primavera, the attacker left Rome to build a professional career in Serie B before earning a call from Sassuolo.

The youthful winger has done a fine job in handling his increasing offensive responsibilities, especially in the wake of Domenico Berardi’s injury-plagued season.

In 19 starts, Politano has found the back of the net three times, and aided his teammates with four assists. Taking three shots per game and hitting his target 60% of the time, he can be unpredictable – finding space behind the defenders with his explosive speed and quick control.

While the winger will be trying to stretch the Giallorossi defence, the outside backs will have to concentrate in preventing the homegrown player from taking advantage over some of his former teammates.