Gianluca Caprari’s splendid Monza curler cancelled out a Gian Marco Ferrari tap-in, but Domenico Berardi wasted two big chances to end Sassuolo’s winless streak.

The Neroverdi had plummeted perilously close to the relegation zone after a run of just one point from seven rounds and went into this game without Andrea Consigli and Andrea Pinamonti. Monza suffered a slender Coppa Italia loss to Juventus midweek and missed Giulio Donati and Filippo Ranocchia.

Martin Erlic made a decisive block after Andrea Petagna’s back-heel flick set Gianluca Caprari up for an angled drive from eight yards, but it was Sassuolo who broke the deadlock.

Davide Frattesi tried to flick on a Hamed Junior Traore corner at the near post, but instead it came through and Gianmarco Ferrari bundled in from six yards off his knee.

Armand Lauriente drilled a couple of attempts wide and was then booked for an embarrassing dive, but almost scored on 40 minutes with a ferocious strike thumping the crossbar on Domenico Berardi’s lay-off from 12 yards.

Moments later, Carlos Augusto nearly did the same for Monza, skimming the woodwork from the edge of the area. Gianluca Pegolo beat away the Jose Machin cross-shot, but could do nothing on the wonderful Caprari right-foot curler that bounced in off the inside of the far post.

Lauriente again drilled wide from a promising position and Berardi should’ve restored Sassuolo’s lead on the Jeremy Toljan pull-back from the right, but he scuffed it wide with only Michele Di Gregorio to beat.

Caprari tested Pegolo at the near post and there was an important low save to deny Christian Gytkjaer’s angled drive, with Dany Mota Carvalho also failing to get on the end of the rebound.

Berardi again missed the target with his weaker right boot after an inspired Frattesi nutmeg assist inside the penalty area, but there was controversy in stoppages when Ruan Tressoldi seemed to catch Patrick Ciurria, perhaps holding his run a second long enough to avoid giving away a spot-kick.

Monza 1-1 Sassuolo

Ferrari 13 (S), Caprari 60 (M)

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