Serie A | Pisa 1-3 Sassuolo: Berardi perfect return to starting XI

Domenico Berardi made the ideal return to the starting XI, scoring and forcing an own goal in Sassuolo’s 3-1 victory away to rock bottom Pisa.

The team in last place missed suspended Arturo Calabresi and coach Alberto Gilardino, plus Adrian Semper, Raul Albiol, Daniel Denoon, Juan Cuadrado and Mateus Lusuardi after fumbling a lead to lose 6-2 with Inter. The Neroverdi were fairly comfortable mid-table, though Fali Cande, Daniel Boloca and Edoardo Pieragnolo were out of action. Domenico Berardi got his first start since November 28.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Pisa had the ball in the net within four minutes, but full debutant Rosen Bozhinov was offside when knocking back the Antonio Caracciolo cross to the back post.

Michael Aebischer curled just wide, while Armand Lauriente tested Simone Scuffet from the tightest of angles.

It was Sassuolo who scored on the counter-attack, as Berardi got down the right and scored from a tricky angle into the roof of the net using his weaker right foot. He hadn’t found the net since November 9.

Berardi nearly added another soon after, his volley on a Lauriente cross flashing wide, then fired inches over the bar after Kristjan Thorstvedt failed to pick the right pass.

Arijanet Muric flapped at a cross and was fortunate to parry Stefano Moreo’s follow-up, while Simone Scuffet rushed out for a desperate save on Ismael Kone from eight yards.

Sassuolo doubled their lead on the resulting corner, as Berardi’s cross-shot was accidentally deflected into his own net by Caracciolo.

Pisa made a triple change at half-time, with Mehdi Leris immediately stinging Arijanet Muric’s gloves.

The hosts got back into it when Rafia Durosinmi laid it off to the edge of the area for Michel Aebischer to thump a powerful strike into the top corner.

Just 60 seconds later, it was almost 2-2, but Jay Idzes sprinted back for a decisive goal-line clearance on the Leris angled drive that had beaten Muric.

Berardi also tested Scuffet at the base of the near post on the counter, and Sassuolo restored their two-goal cushion when Nemanja Matic got down the right and rolled across for Kone to sweep in first-time from 12 yards.

Berardi’s nutmeg sent Lauriente down the right, where he was bundled over by Tramoni for a penalty, but VAR showed the initial contact was just outside the box.

Andrea Pinamonti’s header flashed inches over, while a Matic scorcher was just wide.

Muric crashed into Durosinmi, who had sprung the offside trap to chest down a long ball going clear on goal. It would’ve been a red card for Sassuolo goalkeeper, but he was rescued because the Pisa striker’s kneecap was offside.

Durosinmi also should’ve done better with a glancing header well wide from six yards.

Berardi 25 (S), Caracciolo og 45 (S), Aebischer 51 (P), Kone 59 (S)