Sassuolo 1-0 Lazio Player Ratings: Tarik Muharemovic Rated 8.5/10 as Fadera's Late Strike Seals Narrow 1-0 Victory

In a tense and attritional Serie A encounter, Sassuolo edged out a dogged Lazio side with a slender 1-0 victory. The match, which felt more like a chess game for long periods, was ultimately decided by a substitute. It was a classic smash-and-grab performance from the home side.

From our perspective, this match was never going to be a goal-fest. It was defined by tough tackling, numerous fouls, and a compact defensive shape from Sassuolo that Lazio simply couldn't penetrate. We watched as Lazio huffed and puffed, dominating possession but creating very few clear-cut opportunities against a disciplined backline.

The decisive moment arrived in the 70th minute. Substitute Alieu Fadera, on the pitch for just a few minutes, found himself in the right place at the right time following a corner to poke the ball home. It was a scrappy goal, but it was enough to secure all three points and leave Lazio wondering what might have been. They will surely feel they should have done better.

Here are the Sassuolo Vs Lazio Player Ratings

Lazio Player Ratings vs Sassuolo

Here are Lazio Player Ratings vs Sassuolo

Goalkeeper

Ivan Provedel - 6.5: He made a couple of decent saves, especially one from Pinamonti in the first half. From our view, there was very little he could do about the goal, which was a scramble in the six-yard box. He was tidy with his distribution but ultimately wasn't tested enough to be a hero.

Defenders

Nuno Tavares - 7.5: Easily Lazio's most dangerous player. What stood out to us was his relentless energy down the left flank. He delivered a staggering 13 crosses and created five chances. His end product wasn't always perfect, but he was the only one who consistently looked capable of making something happen. A real bright spark.

Alessio Romagnoli - 6.0: A somewhat nervy performance from the experienced defender. While he made seven clearances, he was also credited with an error leading to a shot. He looked uncomfortable against Sassuolo's directness at times and never seemed fully settled. It wasn't his best day.

Mario Gila - 7.0: A very busy performance. He saw a lot of the ball, completing 95 passes and driving forward when possible. Defensively, he was solid, winning most of his duels. However, his rating is docked for missing two huge headed chances from corners late in the game that could have salvaged a point.

Adam Marusic - 5.5: A quiet and ineffective game from the right-back. He struggled to make any impact offensively and picked up a silly yellow card. He was defensively sound for the most part but offered next to nothing going forward, which Lazio desperately needed. A forgettable outing.

Midfielders

Nicolò Rovella - 6.5: Looked composed and controlled before his unfortunate injury. He was orchestrating play from deep with an impressive 97% pass accuracy. Lazio clearly missed his calming presence after he was forced off in the 41st minute. His injury was a significant blow to the team's rhythm.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - 6.0: A very tidy but ultimately safe performance in his 46 minutes on the pitch. He kept possession well but rarely looked to play a forward, penetrating pass. He did his job without any fuss but also without any real impact on the game's attacking flow.

Mattéo Guendouzi - 6.5: He worked tirelessly as always and created one big chance with a great cross. However, we noticed he lost possession a few too many times in key areas. He tried to force the issue but couldn't quite impose his will on the game as he often does.

Forwards

Mattia Zaccagni - 5.0: A deeply disappointing performance from the captain. From our perspective, he was one of the worst performers. He missed a big chance and lost possession 19 times, constantly killing attacking moves. He looked frustrated and well off the pace, a far cry from his usual standard.

Taty Castellanos - 5.5: A thankless task leading the line. He was completely isolated and starved of service, not managing a single shot. While he worked hard and tried to hold the ball up, he was largely anonymous before being substituted after an hour. He simply had nothing to work with.

Matteo Cancellieri - 6.0: Full of running and endeavour but lacked the final product. He got into some good positions and showed willingness, but his decision-making let him down. It felt like a performance of effort over quality, and he was rightly taken off.

Substitutes

Danilo Cataldi - 6.0: Came on for the injured Rovella and tried to get Lazio moving, but his passing was less incisive. Had a few wayward shots from distance.

Boulaye Dia - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on. Forced a good save from the goalkeeper and offered a more direct threat than Castellanos.

Pedro - 6.0: Brought on to add some spark but struggled to get involved in the game against a deep-lying defence.

Gustav Isaksen - N/A: Came on too late to make any meaningful impact.

Manager

M. Sarri - 5.5: His team had over 60% possession but looked toothless and devoid of ideas. They were predictable in their attacks and failed to adapt to Sassuolo's defensive setup. The substitutions didn't change the game enough, and he was out-thought by his counterpart.

Sassuolo Player Ratings vs Lazio

Here are Sassuolo Player Ratings vs Lazio

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 8.0: An outstanding performance. He was a commanding presence, making three crucial saves to keep his team in the game. His save from Boulaye Dia's close-range shot in the second half was absolutely match-winning. He looked confident and assured throughout.

Defenders

Josh Doig - 7.5: We were very impressed by his all-action display. Defensively, he was superb, making four interceptions and winning all of his tackles. He also got forward well, delivering two accurate crosses. A complete full-back performance that kept Lazio's right side quiet.

Sebastian Walukiewicz - 7.0: Only played the first half but was excellent. He was strong in the tackle and, surprisingly, created two chances from his defensive position. It was a shame to see him go off at halftime as he was having a very solid game.

Jay Idzes - 7.0: A rock at the back. He was a calming influence alongside his partner, making six clearances and blocking a shot. He didn't do anything flashy, but his positioning was excellent. A disciplined and effective display.

Tarik Muharemović - 8.5: Our man of the match. What a performance. He was a colossal figure at the heart of the defence, winning his duels and making crucial interceptions. He then popped up with the vital headed assist for the winning goal. A truly dominant and game-changing display.

Midfielders

Nemanja Matic - 6.5: A classic performance from the veteran. He patrolled the midfield, broke up play, and inevitably picked up a yellow card. He was a bit loose in possession at times, losing it 14 times, but his defensive contribution was vital to Sassuolo's structure.

Aster Vranckx - 6.0: Sailed very close to the wind and was perhaps lucky to only get a yellow card for a nasty challenge. He was combative and broke up play but his recklessness was a liability. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 64 minutes.

Ismaël Koné - 6.5: A tidy and efficient performance in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving and did his defensive duties diligently. He didn't stand out, but he provided the glue that held the midfield together. A solid, unsung hero.

Forwards

Domenico Berardi - 7.0: The captain worked his socks off for the team. While he didn't create much in an attacking sense, his defensive work rate was immense. He tracked back, made tackles, and led by example with his commitment to the team's game plan.

Armand Laurienté - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the attacker. He had a couple of shots but was largely on the periphery of the game. He struggled to find space and was well-marshalled by the Lazio defence before being taken off.

Andrea Pinamonti - 6.5: He was a physical handful for the Lazio centre-backs. He held the ball up reasonably well and had a couple of efforts on goal that tested the keeper. He played the role of a target man effectively before being substituted.

Substitutes

Alieu Fadera - 7.5: The game-changer. Came on and scored the winning goal just six minutes later. A dream impact from the substitute's bench.

Cristian Volpato - 6.5: Added some fresh legs and helped see the game out with his energy and ball retention.

Walid Cheddira - N/A: Came on late and didn't have much time to influence the game.

Kristian Thorstvedt - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes to shore up the midfield.

Manager

F. Grosso - 8.0: He got his tactics spot on. He set his team up to be compact, resilient, and hard to beat. His game plan worked to perfection, frustrating Lazio and hitting them with a set-piece sucker punch. His substitutions were inspired, with Fadera scoring the winner.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Tarik Muharemovic