Sassuolo vs SPAL Prediction

After losing 3-1 away to Serie A's defending champions Juventus yesterday, Roberto De Zerbi targets a determined response from his Sassuolo players with SPAL next in the Coppa Italia's last-16.

Their Serie B opposition began 2021 by ending successive defeats with a 2-1 comeback win against Frosinone, strengthening their aspirations of a swift return to Italy's top-flight.

A ten-day wait between games will have passed by kick-off on Thursday, so can they spring a surprise against stern opposition they're yet to beat in six previous meetings? Read my match preview, for the correct score predictions and best betting tips ahead of this fixture.

Sassuolo vs SPAL Betting Tips

Goals from Danilo, substitute Aaron Ramsey and Cristiano Ronaldo's stoppage-time strike helped add gloss to a second-half performance where Juventus on top form.

Sassuolo, who played 45 minutes with ten men after Pedro Obiang's red card for a nasty sliding challenge on Federico Chiesa, was hindered by the midfielder's dismissal.

Grégoire Defrel left Merih Demiral in his wake with an exquisite touch before equalising with his second goal of the campaign. Ultimately, that moment proved merely false dawn for the visitors - who were left overwhelmed late on by Andrea Pirlo's men: better quality individuals.

That issue won't be the same here, against a SPAL side fifth in Italy's second-tier but struggling for consistency recently after a promising start. They enjoyed an eight-match winning streak (all comps) but won just two from a possible seven league fixtures since losing 2-0 to Cittadella on December 12.

Goals from Salvatore Esposito and Alberto Paloschi helped them complete a turnaround against fellow promotion candidates Frosinone on January 4. After two successful penalty shootout wins and a comfortable win vs Monza, can their cup run continue?

Sassuolo vs SPAL Correct Score Predictions

Sassuolo is unbeaten (W4, D2) against Thursday's visitors, a statistic SPAL under head coach Pasquale Marino would love to end here. I'm expecting some rotation from the hosts, facing strugglers Parma three days later and can't afford to slip up in either game.

Nonetheless, they should have enough quality to surpass SPAL - who will field a strong line-up and could cause problems, but anything besides a home win would be surprising.