Sassuolo recovered from a disastrous start to hold Rapid Vienna 1-1 thanks to an own goal.
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The Neroverdi were still missing Domenico Berardi, Simone Missiroli, Alfred Duncan and Tim Letschert, so Alessandro Matri led the way. Rapid had won two of their three home European fixtures this season, but beat Italian sides only twice in 19 previous attempts, losing 14.
Sassuolo recovered from a disastrous start to hold Rapid Vienna 1-1 thanks to an own goal.
Follow the action from all four Italian contenders in our LIVEBLOG.
The Neroverdi were still missing Domenico Berardi, Simone Missiroli, Alfred Duncan and Tim Letschert, so Alessandro Matri led the way. Rapid had won two of their three home European fixtures this season, but beat Italian sides only twice in 19 previous attempts, losing 14.
Andrea Consigli had a scare in the opening minute, flying to palm a Joelinton strike over the bar from a huge distance.
He flapped at a set play and the Neroverdi failed to clear their lines, so Schaub was alert to fire in the rebound.
It was almost 2-0 moments later, as Francesco Magnanelli’s misplaced pass was cut out and Schaub drilled just wide. Murg had a fierce strike beaten away, as Sassuolo were utterly shell-shocked.
Antonino Ragusa should’ve equalised on 16 minutes, but after the smart one-two with Alessandro Matri his finish skimmed the woodwork, while the goalkeeper rushed out to smother at the feet of Matteo Politano.
Pavelic blasted just wide and Murg nutmegged a defender only to balloon over when one-on-one with Consigli.
Joelinton almost scored the goal of the round with an overhead kick that clipped the top of the crossbar.
Sassuolo slowly increased the pressure and Gregoire Defrel almost scored with his first touch, a great curler that Strebinger flew to palm round the far post.
The Italians were gifted a way back into the game, as Thomas Schrammel misjudged Federico Peluso’s cross and accidentally nodded it into his own net for the equaliser.
Both sides pushed for the winner, but Consigli made a crucial late save on Mocinic’s header from a corner and Francesco Acerbi’s screamer skimmed the crossbar.
Sassuolo become the only side so far to have earned any points away from home in this group.
Rapid Vienna 1-1 Sassuolo
Schaub 7 (R), Schrammel og 66 (S)
Rapid Vienna: Strebinger; Pavelic, Schosswendter, Dibon (Hofman 46), Schrammel; Mocinic, Schwab; Murg (Grahovac 64), Schaub, Traustason (Jelic 73); Joelinton
Sassuolo: Consigli; Lirola, Antei, Acerbi, Peluso; Mazzitelli, Magnanelli, Pellegrini; Politano (Adjapong 87), Matri (Ricci 79), Ragusa (Defrel 58)
Ref: Hugo Miguel (POR)