Inter Milan arrive in Reggio Emilia to take on Sassuolo carrying the momentum of a side that looks increasingly comfortable at the summit of Serie A. Unbeaten in their last 11 league outings, the Nerazzurri have created early daylight at the top of the table and now have a chance to stretch their advantage over AC Milan even further with another away-day success on Sunday night.
The league leaders’ march through the early months of 2026 has been calm rather than chaotic. Inter continue to win without expending unnecessary energy, a theme reinforced last weekend when goals from Lautaro Martínez and Piotr Zieliński were enough to dispatch a struggling Cremonese side. That result extended a winning sequence that also includes emphatic victories over Pisa and Borussia Dortmund, the latter sealing a Champions League playoff clash with Bodø/Glimt later this month.
Domestic priorities have not been neglected either. Despite rotation, Inter edged past Torino in midweek to book their place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, maintaining hopes of a domestic double. With the Derby d’Italia against Juventus looming, this trip to the Mapei Stadium represents another test of their focus — and of a remarkable away record.
Inter have won seven consecutive Serie A matches on the road, a run that places them among the club’s strongest travelling sides of the modern era. Their ability to control tempo away from San Siro has been central to their title push, with defensive solidity and ruthless efficiency in transition defining recent performances.
Yet Sassuolo are no ordinary obstacle. Despite their modest status, the Neroverdi have historically posed problems for Inter, claiming 10 wins from 23 league meetings. They have also won two of the last three encounters between the sides, although Inter did prevail 2–1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Back in Serie A after a year in the second tier, Sassuolo have quietly stabilised themselves in mid-table. A 3–1 away victory over Pisa last weekend, sparked by a composed opener from Domenico Berardi, moved them to 29 points and further away from any relegation concerns. That result marked consecutive league wins for the first time since October, easing the pressure that followed a difficult spell of three straight defeats.
Fabio Grosso, a former Inter defender, now faces his old club with renewed belief. While Sassuolo’s home form has been mixed, they will take encouragement from recent performances and from a squad capable of exploiting any lapse in concentration, particularly in wide areas where Berardi remains their chief threat.
Still, the balance of power heavily favours the visitors. Inter’s depth, tactical maturity and confidence, especially away from home, suggest they are well equipped to navigate this potential banana skin. Sassuolo may compete for long spells, but Inter’s ability to decide games in moments could once again prove decisive. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Sassuolo talisman Domenico Berardi remains central to everything the Neroverdi do in the final third and will once again shoulder much of the attacking responsibility against Inter’s league-leading defence.
From a squad availability perspective, Sassuolo are still dealing with a couple of enforced absences. Edoardo Pieragnolo and Fali Candé both remain sidelined with long-term injuries and will not feature. There is also a degree of uncertainty surrounding Daniel Boloca, who is racing against time to recover from a knee issue; a late assessment will determine whether he can be included in the matchday squad. No suspensions have been reported, giving Fabio Grosso relative freedom in selection aside from the injury concerns.
Tactically, Sassuolo are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 system, one that prioritises width and quick transitions. Arijanet Muric is set to start in goal, providing a strong aerial presence and distribution from the back. The defensive line should see Sebastian Walukiewicz operating at right-back, with Jay Idzes and Tarik Muharemovic forming the central defensive partnership, while Josh Doig is likely to occupy the left-back role, offering forward thrust down the flank.
In midfield, Kristian Thorstvedt is expected to provide box-to-box energy, complemented by the experience and positional discipline of Nemanja Matic, who anchors the midfield and screens the back four. Alongside them, Ismael Kone is likely to take on a more dynamic role, tasked with ball progression and disrupting Inter’s build-up play.
The front three should be built around Andrea Pinamonti as the central striker, facing his former club and acting as the focal point in attack. He is expected to be supported by Domenico Berardi cutting in from the right wing and Armand Lauriente attacking from the left, giving Sassuolo pace, directness, and goal threat across the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Kone; Berardi, Pinamonti, Lauriente
Inter are expected to revert to a stronger, more established starting XI after Cristian Chivu heavily rotated his squad in midweek against Torino. That gamble paid off with Coppa Italia progression, allowing the Nerazzurri to refocus fully on league business ahead of a demanding run that includes the upcoming Derby d’Italia. Sunday’s trip to Reggio Emilia is therefore likely to see Inter field a side much closer to their preferred Serie A lineup.
In terms of availability, Inter continue to cope without several high-profile regulars. Denzel Dumfries remains unavailable, depriving Chivu of his first-choice right wing-back, while midfield mainstays Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolò Barella are also ruled out through injury. There are no suspension concerns, and Inter have been boosted by the return of Carlos Augusto, who is fit again after missing the last two matches and provides an important option on the left side of the pitch.
One of the key tactical storylines is the return of Federico Dimarco, who is set to reclaim his role on the left flank. January’s Serie A Player of the Month, Dimarco scored in the reverse fixture against Sassuolo and has already registered eight league assists this season, underlining his influence in Inter’s attacking structure. Up front, captain Lautaro Martínez will once again lead the line, with the Argentine entering the match level with Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi among the top one-club scorers in Serie A history.
Inter are expected to operate in their familiar 3-5-2 formation, designed to dominate central areas while stretching play through wing-backs. Yann Sommer should start in goal, offering composure and reliability in possession. The back three is likely to consist of Yann Bisseck on the right, Manuel Akanji centrally, and Alessandro Bastoni on the left, a combination that balances physical presence with progressive passing.
Across midfield, Henrique Henrique is expected to operate as the right wing-back, tasked with providing width and defensive cover, while Federico Dimarco occupies the left wing-back role, pushing high to deliver crosses and overload wide areas. In the centre, Petar Sucic is likely to take on a holding role, supported by Piotr Zielinski, who offers creativity between the lines, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose experience and positional intelligence help dictate tempo.
The forward pairing should see Marcus Thuram partnering Lautaro Martinez, combining physicality, movement, and clinical finishing. Thuram’s ability to stretch defences complements Martinez’s instinctive positioning in the box, making the duo a constant threat in both open play and transition.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Sucic, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Martinez
Few players in Serie A carry the same sense of occasion against elite opposition as Domenico Berardi. Sassuolo’s long-serving talisman remains the heartbeat of their attack and, even deep into his prime years, continues to deliver moments that can tilt games against the league’s heavyweights. Facing Inter, his motivation is never in doubt, history shows he thrives when the spotlight is brightest.
Operating primarily from the right flank, Berardi’s influence goes far beyond goals. His ability to drift inside onto his stronger left foot creates constant dilemmas for opposing full-backs and centre-halves alike, while his decision-making in the final third has matured into one of the most reliable creative outlets in the division. Whether it’s a curling effort from distance, a disguised through ball, or a perfectly weighted cut-back, Sassuolo’s attacking rhythm flows through him.
What makes Berardi particularly dangerous in this matchup is his knack for exploiting transitions. Inter’s wing-backs push high, and any momentary lapse can open pockets of space that Berardi is expertly equipped to punish. With Andrea Pinamonti occupying defenders centrally, Berardi often finds himself in isolated one-on-one situations, scenarios he relishes.
Beyond tactics, there is also a historical edge. Berardi sits just one goal behind Inter captain Lautaro Martínez in the Serie A one-club scoring charts, a statistic that subtly reinforces his enduring importance to Sassuolo. On a night where opportunities may be limited, Berardi is the player most capable of producing something decisive from nothing, and that alone makes him the name Inter must contain if they are to leave Reggio Emilia unscathed.
Sassuolo have enough quality and confidence to make this an uncomfortable evening for the league leaders, particularly with Domenico Berardi capable of punishing any defensive lapse. Their recent upturn in form and familiarity with troubling Inter in past meetings suggest this will not be a straightforward assignment.
However, Inter’s current authority in Serie A, especially away from home, is difficult to ignore. Even with key midfield absentees, Cristian Chivu’s side possess the structure, depth, and composure needed to control long phases of the match. The ability of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram to convert half-chances often proves decisive in fixtures of this nature.
