Napoli look unstoppable with a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions, as Victor Osimhen bagged a hat-trick, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia got one goal and two assists.
The Partenopei are the form team in Europe right now, welcoming back Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa from injury, so only Amir Rrahmani was still out of action. The Neroverdi had Gian Marco Ferrari available again after suspension, but Domenico Berardi, Mert Muldur and Gregoire Defrel were on the treatment table.
It means the last four Serie A meetings between these sides provided 21 goals. There was a moment before kick-off to mark what would’ve been Diego Armando Maradona’s 62nd birthday.
Armand Laurienté won a corner in the opening minutes after surging past two defenders, but Napoli took the lead with their first real attack. Giovanni Di Lorenzo volleyed in a cross from the right, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia only flicked it on with his head and Victor Osimhen was ready to turn in at the back post.
Mario Rui’s lob was acrobatically fingertipped onto the crossbar by Andrea Consigli, but Andrea Pinamonti skimmed the near post for Sassuolo with a shot through the legs of Juan Jesus from the edge of the area.
The second goal saw Kvaratskhelia get to the by-line and hold off Maxime Lopez to pull back low for Osimhen to simply redirect from six yards.
Thorstvedt failed to beat Alex Meret one-on-one after springing the offside trap, as did Laurienté at the near post.
However, Kvaratskhelia followed up two assists with a goal. His first touch was sensational to control a Mario Rui ball over the top, he let it bounce and smashed in with his right foot.
Kvaradona almost got another moments later, a sensational flying scissor-kick volley from the edge of the box that flew just over the bar.
Straight after the restart, Meret got down well to palm Pinamonti’s angled drive onto the feet of Thorstvedt, who somehow failed to get it under control for a tap-in, then Davide Frattesi flashed a ball across the face of goal with nobody there to meet it after a cheeky Laurienté no-look pass and Meret denied Frattesi on a through pass.
Meret denied Frattesi again, though this time he seemed to be held back first by Juan Jesus, while Giacomo Raspadori’s free kick was deflected wide.
Tanguy Ndombele won back the ball in midfield and Osimhen and beat the on-rushing Consigli with a cheeky chip to complete his hat-trick.
Laurienté was already on a yellow card when he launched into a late tackle on Diego Demme and was sent off.
Alessandro Zanoli ran from his own half to set up Osimhen, but Consigli got just enough on the cross to take it away from the Nigerian.
Napoli 4-0 Sassuolo
Osimhen 4, 19, 77 (N), Kvaratskhelia 36 (N)
Sent off: Laurienté 84 (S)