Sassuolo took a vital step to a place in the Europa League next season as they beat Hellas Verona 1-0 in a game without much real quality at the Mapei Stadium.
The only goal of the game came shortly before the hour mark with a wildly deflected shot from Lorenzo Pellgini, only his second goal of the season, that went past Pierluigi Gollini.
It was actually the visitors, who despite being already relegated to Serie B started the brighter of the two teams and Sassuolo keeper Andrea Consigli was forced into making a good save from a first-time Pawel Wszolek shot following an error from Alessandro Longhi.
The hosts failed to get into their own rhythm at the start of the game and despite some good work from Domenico Berardi, his cross just missed Nicola Sansone’s head.
The Neroverdi though, like in so many games in recent times, picked up the pace in the second half and Alfred Duncan managed to latch onto the ball following a mistake in the Verona defence and the ball eventually found its way to Pellegrini, whose wickedly deflected shot deceived Pierluigi Gollini in the Mastini goal.
Immediately after the goal Verona coach Luigi Del Neri brought on veteran striker Luca Toni for Juanito Gomez but the game could have been put to bed just minutes later but Diego Falcinelli was not able to scored from just a couple of yards out.
A flurry of changes were made but Eusebio di Francesco’s side saw out the game making sure that their opponents did not render themselves dangerous at any particular moment.
Sassuolo’s victory against Verona allied with AC Milan‘s home draw against Frosinone means that the hosts are now one point in front of the Rossoneri in sixth place with the just games remaining in the season and they will qualify for the Europa League should they maintain that position and barring that Milan win the Coppa Italia.
