Three to Watch: Sassuolo blend youthful ambition with grit and experience

Roma travel north to Emilia-Romagna, facing Eusebio Di Francesco’s resilient Sassuolo in Week 10 of Serie A.

The Neroverdi are making history by playing in the club’s first season of European competition, while domestically they sit six points behind the Giallorossi at this early stage of the campaign.

Sassuolo have won their last six home matches, while Roma have avoided defeat in 24 of their last 26 in the league. One thing is certain, one of those records will be broken on Wednesday evening - and our columnist believes these three players will lead the way for the home side at the Mapei Stadium…

Gregoire Defrel

The athletic, hard-working French striker has fought his way into becoming an integral member of the Neroverdi’s attacking trident.

Entering into his prime at 25-years-old, Defrel is having a very strong start between both competitions – scoring five goals and creating two assists in just 10 starts. The former Cesena striker is equally strong at finishing as he is in buildup play.

Often seen checking back to find the ball, Defrel combines well with the wingers, often looking to distribute the ball throughout the channels of the opponents’ final third.

It is a certainty that the striker will be using his physical attributes to stress Roma’s backline in search of a point on the score sheet.

Alessandro Matri

While Sassuolo's attack is generally made up of young, promising players looking to make a name for themselves, the presence of Alessandro Matri offers a measure of experience and know-how to the forward line.

The former AC Milan and Juventus striker may no longer be playing for one of Italy's most recognisable clubs, but the goalscoring threat that once attracted those sides remains and he has grown into a valuable player for the Neroverdi.

Provided plenty of opportunities from the clever wingers around him, Matri will have to be closely guarded throughout the contest.

Francesco Acerbi

The defender enjoys a growing reputation within Serie A, benefitting from the faith and prolonged playing time that Di Francesco has afforded him.

A man of many loans and co-ownership agreements during the formative part of his career, two battles with testicular cancer further arrested the development of Acerbi's career. But, now illness-free and a regular with Sassuolo, the defender has grown into a stable and reliable presence in the heart of the defence.

A familiar foe for many of the Roma attackers, they will know they will need to be sharp to get the better of the giant centre-back - who, at nearly 6'4", also represents a real goalscoring threat for Sassuolo from set pieces.