Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending teams US Sassuolo Calcio (15-9-13, 58 points) and Inter Milan (20-10-7, 67 points) are set to square off at the Mapei Stadium - Città del Tricolore on May 14th, Saturday for their final fixture in the 2015-2016 Serie A season.
Sassuolo is at the sixth spot of the current league table, three points behind fifth-placed team ACF Fiorentina and the final Europa League qualifying slot for next season with only one matchday left in this term.
However, even if I Neroverdi wins this match against Inter, they will still not be able to claim the last Europa League berth as Viola has a much higher goal difference of +16 as compared to their +7.
Manager Eusebio Di Francesco's boys nipped officially relegated squad Frosinone Calcio, 1-0, at the Stadio Matusa last Sunday, as per ESPN.
Italian striker Matteo Politano, on loan from Roma, scored the lone goal of the contest at the 85th minute for Sassuolo to extend the team's two-game winning run to three games as they are also unbeaten in their last four matches. The late undefeated streak fell short of qualifying in the Europa League, though.
Meanwhile, Inter is having mercurial performances in their past couple of games as they alternated losing and winning in their last four outings.
They are currently at fourth place in the overall standings but are 10 points below the last Champions League slot presently held by third-running team Roma. Fiorentina is six points below, which means they are assured of a Europa League slot no matter the result of their season finale.
I Nerazzurri is coming off a tough 2-1 victory over middling club Empoli FC at their home ground of Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro last Saturday, via Goal.
Team captain Mauro Icardi netted the opening goal at the 12th minute for Inter before Empoli forward Manuel Pucciarelli leveled the count at the 37th.
Croatian winger Ivan Perisic grabbed back the lead five minutes before halftime as both teams went goalless for the rest of the match, allowing La Beneamata to bounce back from their previous loss to Lazio.
The predicted result is a tough 1-0 decision for Inter Milan.
Sassuolo starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Consigli; Vrsaljko, Cannavaro, Acerbi, Peluso; Pellegrini, Magnanelli, Duncan; Berardi, Defrel, Sansone
Inter Milan starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, Miranda, Juan Jesus, Nagatomo; Medel, Kondogbia; Brozovic, Jovetic, Perisic; Icardi
