Sassuolo vs Cesena - Coppa Italia

A fascinating Coppa Italia chapter awaits on August 17, 2026 when Sassuolo take on Cesena at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. Rush will take over under centre for the Falcons as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, with the team’s quarterback situation taking an unexpected turn heading into the season opener.

Both Sassuolo and Cesena will be eager to build momentum when they meet in Coppa Italia. Sassuolo will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The player had scored the equaliser away to Lyon before winning the penalty that secured the three points.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Sassuolo will look to impose their style on home soil, while Cesena are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. In attack, Brazilian forward Kaua Elias has emerged as a name of interest, with United scouts watching the Shakhtar Donetsk striker after his hat‑trick against Kudrivka on Monday.

The fixture features no shortage of talent, and the league's top marksman J. Pohjanpalo — 3 goals this term — will be one to watch. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. More than that, he is the club's top scorer in a single European campaign.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Coppa Italia standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. A more central role appears likely given the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and the anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.