Back to dogfight for Sassuolo after Milan win

ROME – After causing the downfall of AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri with an astonishing 4-3 win, struggling Sassuolo return to the harsh reality of the fight against relegation when they host Torino on Sunday.

Friday, January 17, 2014
Mario Balotelli and AC Milan have endured a miserable season in the Serie A. Net photo

SaturdayAS Roma    vs    Livorno        7pmJuventus    vs    Sampdoria    9:45pmSundayUdinese    vs    Lazio        1:30pmAtalanta    vs    Cagliari        4pmCatania    vs    FiorentinaGenoa    vs    InterBologna    vs    NapoliChievo    vs    ParmaSassuolo    vs    TorinoMilan    vs    H Veronass    9:45pmROME – After causing the downfall of AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri with an astonishing 4-3 win, struggling Sassuolo return to the harsh reality of the fight against relegation when they host Torino on Sunday.Despite last weekend’s victory the Serie A debutants are still precariously placed in 17th position with 17 points, one point and one place above Bologna in the drop zone.The smallest town to be represented in Serie A, Sassuolo’s season has been full of drama, from 19-year-old Domenico Berardi’s four-goal performance against Milan to defender Francesco Acerbi’s battle against cancer.Results have been wildly inconsistent, ranging from a 7-0 home drubbing by Inter Milan to their first-ever top flight win on a near waterlogged pitch against Bologna and a memorable 4-3 victory at Sampdoria.Sassuolo lost four league games in a row in December without scoring but bounced back in style against Milan, Berardi hitting four goals in just over half an hour as his side recovered from going two goals behind.Few can predict what the second half of the season will hold although it is unlikely to be boring as coach Eusebio Di Francesco is reluctant to change his team’s style despite the worst defensive record in Serie A.SEEDORF TASKMilan, who are 11th, host sixth-placed Verona on Sunday and have not yet indicated whether new coach Clarence Seedorf will be in the dugout.The Dutchman, who abruptly ended his playing career at Brazil’s Botafogo to take the job, watched from the stands when Milan beat Spezia 3-1 in the Italian Cup on Wednesday.Leading pair Juventus and AS Roma are both at home on Saturday.  Juve, who have 52 points after dropping just five all season, will be attempting a 12th straight win when they host improving Sampdoria.