It was a double disaster Davide Ballardini debut for Sassuolo, as not only did their defensive error gift Verona victory with Karol Swiderski, but Domenico Berardi sustained a season-ending injury.
These teams went into the weekend locked together on 20 points in the relegation zone. The Neroverdi sacked Alessio Dionisi, then caretaker manager Emiliano Bigica lost 6-1 to Napoli, so Ballardini was drafted in for his debut. Mattia Viti was the only remaining absentee, as Berardi made his comeback over a month after a knee injury. Hellas held Juventus to a 2-2 draw in their last home fixture, but Michael Folorunsho was ruled out by flu symptoms.
Kristian Thorstvedt met Berardi’s cross at the back post to force a tough save out of Lorenzo Montipò on the half-volley, while Marcus Pedersen risked an own goal by intercepting the Tijjani Noslin roll across from six yards and Thomas Henry fired wide on the bounce.
Andrea Consigli made a sensational double save on the deflected Toma Suslov strike at the near top corner and the Jovane Cabal follow-up too.
Noslin just failed to get on the end of a Cabal cross with the diving header, while Berardi’s free kick bent inches wide of the far post.
However, just as he was back after more than a month out, Berardi pulled up with a suspected tear of the Achilles tendon in his right leg and was carried off the field. The initial reports from the Sassuolo medical staff suggest the tendon is torn and that would end his season, also ruling him out of EURO 2024.
Thorstvedt had a strike charged down and just as Sassuolo were pouring forward, they gifted Verona the opening goal.
Matheus Henrique was caught napping in midfield and Federico Bonazzoli immediately sent Karol Swiderski through, but the finish took a crucial deflection off Martin Erlic to wrong-foot Consigli. It was the Polish striker’s debut Serie A goal.
Sassuolo tried to get back into it, but remained ineffective in front of goal and risked conceding another on the counter from Bonazzoli.
Verona 1-0 Sassuolo
Swiderski 79 (V)
Player statistic
| 47' |  |
Matheus Henrique | ||
| Pawel Dawidowicz | |
51' | ||
| 72' | |
Samu Castillejo | ||
| Karol Swiderski (Assist: Federico Bonazzoli) |
 |
79' | ||
| Juan Cabal | |
81' | ||
| Suat Serdar | |
82' | ||
| Diego Coppola | |
89' |
Match statistic
