Sassuolo opened their 2026-27 Coppa Italia campaign in emphatic style, easing past Serie C side Cesena 3-0 on a humid August evening at the Mapei Stadium. The Neroverdi controlled proceedings from start to finish, with all three goals arriving in the second half to secure a comfortable passage to the next round.

Match Overview

Playing in front of a passionate home support, Sassuolo dominated possession early but found Cesena's compact low block difficult to break down in the opening 45 minutes. The visitors, who travelled to Emilia-Romagna full of confidence after a strong start to their domestic season, rarely threatened goalkeeper Andrea Consigli but made life awkward in midfield.

The breakthrough finally came just after the hour mark, and once the deadlock was broken, Sassuolo's quality began to show. A quickfire double inside ten minutes killed the tie, and a late third added gloss to a professional, controlled performance that will please head coach Davide Ballardini as his side prepares for a demanding Serie B campaign.

Key Moments

• 27' — Early scare: Cesena's winger Tommaso Berti cut inside from the left and forced a sharp save from Consigli with a driven effort from 20 yards.
• 62' — Sassuolo find the opener: A patient passing move culminated in a low cross from Jeremy Toljan, tapped in at the near post by striker Andrea Pinamonti for his first goal of the season.
• 68' — The game is sealed: Cesena's defence failed to clear a corner, and midfielder Daniel Boloca volleyed home from the edge of the box to double the lead.
• 83' — Late icing on the cake: Substitute Luca Moro raced onto a through ball and calmly slotted past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

Tactical Story

Sassuolo lined up in a fluid 4-2-3-1, with Kristian Thorstvedt operating as the attacking midfielder behind Pinamonti. The home side focused on stretching Cesena's narrow defensive shape by using the width provided by Toljan and Joshua Zirkzee, the latter employed in a wide left role. Despite dominating territory in the first half, the final ball was often lacking, and Cesena's disciplined lines kept the scoreline level at the interval.

After the break, Ballardini instructed his full-backs to push higher, and the increased urgency paid dividends. The midfield pivot of Boloca and Pedro Obiang controlled the tempo, while the introduction of Moro for a tiring Zirkzee added fresh legs and a direct running threat. Cesena, having invested heavily defensively, ran out of steam as the half wore on, and their inability to retain possession invited sustained pressure.

Standout Performers

Daniel Boloca was the standout player on the pitch, dictating play from the base of midfield and capping his display with a well-taken goal. His passing range and composure under pressure set the tone for Sassuolo's dominance.

Andrea Pinamonti led the line tirelessly and took his goal with the poise expected of a striker with Serie A pedigree. His hold-up play also gave his side a constant outlet against physical defending.

Jeremy Toljan provided the width and the assist for the opener, repeatedly overlapping on the right and delivering dangerous balls into the box. His energy was a constant problem for the Cesena backline.

Season and Cup Impact

For Sassuolo, this was a job done with minimal fuss. The victory sends them into the second round of the Coppa Italia, where they will hope to build momentum for a promotion push in Serie B after their relegation from the top flight. The clean sheet will also be a boost for a defence that has often been criticised in recent seasons.

For Cesena, the defeat is a harsh lesson in the gap between the divisions, but the bianconeri can take pride in their first-half resilience. Their focus will now return to Serie C, where they remain among the favourites for automatic promotion. The Mapei Stadium faithful, meanwhile, will hope this performance is a sign of things to come as their beloved club looks to bounce back at the first time of asking.