Duvan Zapata got his first Atalanta start in four months, but Hamed Junior Traore took centre-stage with a brace for clinical Sassuolo’s victory.
La Dea were missing Berat Djimsiti, Remo Freuler, Josip Ilicic and suspended Marten de Roon, as well as risking fatigue after the 1-1 Europa League quarter-final draw at RB Leipzig, so there was a massive squad rotation including Rafael Toloi’s return and the first Duvan Zapata start since December. The Neroverdi welcomed back Domenico Berardi, but Davide Frattesi sat out a ban.
Marco Sportiello made a desperate fingertip save within the opening two minutes on a deflected Maxime Lopez effort that was looping under the bar.
Sassuolo went even closer, Andrea Consigli fingertipping a Mario Pasalic strike onto the crossbar after 12 minutes.
Sportiello stuck out a leg to deny a Hamed Junior Traore effort that squirmed through a crowd, then Berardi fired in from a tight angle with his weaker foot, but the goal was ruled marginally offside.
Atalanta were caught out by a free kick on the edge of their own penalty area for a textbook Sassuolo counter-attack, Berardi sent Giorgos Kyriakopoulos running, his cross found Traore for a chest and volley off the underside of the bar.
Moments later, Traore almost made it 2-0, his finish this time deflected onto the upright, while Consigli fingertipped a Vlad Chiriches header out from under the bar.
Mario Pasalic blasted over from a promising position, while Kaan Ayhan handball appeals were rejected because the ball bounced off his leg first.
Sportiello denied Traore in another one-on-one situation, but the creative midfielder did complete his brace with a run from midfield and drill low into the near bottom corner.
Luis Muriel came off the bench and his scorcher was palmed out from under the bar, while Giorgio Scalvini nodded just wide from a corner.
Sassuolo continued to threaten on the counter, Gregoire Defrel’s low drive beating Sportiello to bounce off the far post.
Muriel did get a consolation with practically the last kick of the game, as Ruan Tressoldi failed to cut out the Ruslan Malinovskyi assist.
Sassuolo 2-1 Atalanta
Traore 24, 61 (S), Muriel 93 (A)