A classic "trap game" awaits the Serie A leaders this Sunday, February 8, 2026, as Inter Milan travels to Reggio Emilia to face their historic "bogey team," Sassuolo. While the league table suggests a routine win for the visitors, history suggests that at the Mapei Stadium, the script rarely goes to plan.
Match Details
Fixture: Sassuolo vs. Inter Milan
Competition: Serie A (Matchday 24)
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026
Time: 18:00 CET / 17:00 GMT
Venue: Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore
Referee: Daniele Chiffi
Pre-Match Analysis
Sassuolo: The Giant-Killers
After a season in the wilderness of Serie B, Fabio Grosso’s Sassuolo has returned to the top flight with their giant-killing identity intact. Currently sitting in 11th place (29 points), the Neroverdi are enjoying a surge in form, chasing their third consecutive league win after a convincing 3-1 victory over Pisa.
Sassuolo has a psychological edge that few teams possess against the Nerazzurri. They remain the only team to have completed a league double over Inter in recent years (2023/24), and their proactive 4-3-3 system is designed to exploit high-pressing teams. With Domenico Berardi—Inter’s perennial tormentor—back in the fold, Grosso will feel confident about causing another upset.
Inter: Chivu’s Disciplined Charge
Under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, who took over from Simone Inzaghi in June 2025, Inter has been a model of efficiency. They currently lead Serie A with 55 points, holding a commanding eight-point lead over rivals AC Milan. They arrive in Reggio Emilia on the back of six straight away wins in the league, most recently brushing aside Cremonese 2-0.
Chivu has retained the tactical fluidity of the previous era but added a "grittier" defensive edge. However, this weekend poses a unique challenge: Inter fans have been handed a travel ban for this fixture following incidents in their previous match, meaning the league leaders must defend their lead without their usual vocal away support.
Team News & Injury Reports
Sassuolo Team News
Out: Edoardo Pieragnolo, Fali Candé, Daniel Boloca, and M’Bala Nzola are all sidelined with injuries.
Doubtful: Kristian Thorstvedt and Cristian Volpato are battling for fitness; both are expected to undergo late fitness tests on Saturday.
Player to Watch: Domenico Berardi. With 5 goals this season and a career-long habit of scoring against Inter, he is the undisputed danger man.
Inter Team News
Out: Denzel Dumfries is out long-term following ankle surgery. Midfield engine Nicolò Barella is sidelined with a hamstring injury until mid-February.
Returning: Davide Frattesi is expected to start against his former club, stepping in for the injured Barella.
Player to Watch: Lautaro Martínez. The captain is in blistering form with 13 league goals this season and historically enjoys the open spaces Sassuolo’s high line provides.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Sassuolo (4-3-3):
Arijanet Muric; Walukiewicz, Jay Idzes, Muharemovic, Josh Doig; Ismaël Koné, Nemanja Matic, Thorstvedt; Berardi, Pinamonti, Armand Laurienté.
Inter (3-5-2):
Yann Sommer; Yann Bisseck, Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Frattesi, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Piotr Zielinski, Federico Dimarco; Lautaro Martínez, Marcus Thuram.
Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Historical Warning: Sassuolo has won 10 of their 24 total meetings with Inter, a remarkably high win rate for a mid-table side against the Nerazzurri.
Away Form: Inter has won 7 of their last 8 away matches in Serie A.
Scoreline Pattern: The most common result when Sassuolo plays Inter at home is 1-0.
Offense vs. Defense: Inter has scored 52 goals (league high), while Sassuolo has conceded 29 in 23 games.
Prediction: Sassuolo 1–2 Inter
While Sassuolo has the "bogey team" tag, Chivu’s Inter has shown a level of maturity this season that suggests they can handle the pressure. The absence of Barella is a blow, but Frattesi’s familiarity with the Mapei Stadium should help bridge the gap. Expect a cagey affair where Inter’s superior bench depth—with the likes of Pio Esposito or Mehdi Taremi—tips the scales in the second half.
Top Betting Tips:
Match Result: Inter Win. Their away momentum is currently the best in Europe.
Both Teams to Score: Yes. Berardi and Pinamonti are clinical at home, and Inter’s defense will feel the absence of Dumfries.
Total Goals: Under 3.5. History shows these head-to-heads are rarely high-scoring blowouts.
