CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | US Sassuolo Calcio |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Roberto D’Aversa |
| Stadium | Mapei Stadium โ Cittร del Tricolore |
| Nickname | I Neroverdi |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Key Centre-Back | Jay Idzes |
| Key Full-Back | Josh Doig |
| Summer Addition | Duje ฤaleta-Car |
| Loan Arrival | Fedde Leysen |
| Key Concern | Worst defensive record in Serie A before managerial change |
The Defining Moment
Sassuolo’s defensive unit entered 2026/27 as the department most urgently in need of reconstruction. The club had spent the summer attempting to address the vulnerabilities that had plagued their return to Serie A, signing Duje ฤaleta-Car from Lyon and Ignace Van Der Brempt to strengthen a back line that had leaked goals throughout the previous campaign. Jay Idzes, the Indonesian centre-back whose performances had attracted attention, was expected to anchor the defence alongside the new arrivals.
The defining moment arrived not through a defensive improvement but through a collapse so severe that it cost the manager his job. By early November, Sassuolo had conceded 29 goals in eleven Serie A matches โ the worst defensive record in the division โ and sat seventeenth, just one point above the relegation zone. The 3-0 defeat to Roma, in which the defence was comprehensively dismantled, proved the final straw for Alberto Aquilani. Roberto D’Aversa was appointed with an explicit mandate: fix the defence.
This is the story of Sassuolo’s 2026/27 defenders: a unit rebuilt in the summer, exposed in the autumn, and now entrusted to a manager whose first task is to restore the compactness and resilience that was entirely absent under his predecessor.
Tactical Context
The shift from Aquilani to D’Aversa represents a fundamental change in defensive philosophy. Aquilani favoured possession-based build-up and a back four, asking his defenders to play out from the back and contribute to sustained attacking sequences. The approach was ambitious but, with the personnel available, catastrophically vulnerable.
D’Aversa is a pragmatist. His preferred structure in recent roles at Empoli and Torino has been a three-man defence, and reports from his first weeks at Sassuolo suggest a 3-4-2-1 is the likely destination. The logic is straightforward: three centre-backs offer greater protection for a defence that has been repeatedly exposed, while the wing-backs provide width without abandoning defensive responsibilities. D’Aversa himself has been careful not to commit publicly to a formation, insisting that “concepts matter more than the system,” but the direction of travel is clear.
The early-season numbers under Aquilani reveal a defence in disarray. Sassuolo conceded 29 goals in eleven matches, an average of 2.64 per game, and kept no clean sheets in the league. The back four was repeatedly bypassed through central areas, and individual errors โ including a Walukiewicz own goal against Roma โ compounded the structural problems. D’Aversa’s three-man defence is designed to address both issues: extra cover for the centre-backs and a more compact shape that forces opponents wide rather than through the middle.
The Defenders
Jay Idzes
Idzes is the centre-back upon whom Sassuolo’s defensive structure depends. The 26-year-old Indonesian international, valued at โฌ14 million, arrived from Venezia in 2025 and established himself as the club’s most reliable defender during a difficult campaign. His profile โ comfortable in possession, positionally disciplined, and capable of stepping into midfield โ made him ideally suited to Aquilani’s build-up approach, though the collective failures around him limited his individual impact.
Under D’Aversa, Idzes’s role may evolve. The three-man defence should provide him with additional cover, allowing him to defend more aggressively in the channels while relying on his partners to cover the central space. At 26, he is in his prime and represents one of Sassuolo’s most valuable assets. His availability has been compromised by a disrupted pre-season, but his return to full fitness is essential to D’Aversa’s plans.
Duje ฤaleta-Car
ฤaleta-Car is the summer addition signed to bring experience and leadership to a young defence. The 30-year-old Croatian international arrived from Lyon on a two-year contract, bringing a pedigree that includes spells at Marseille and Southampton, as well as 30 caps for his country. At 6’4″, he offers the aerial dominance and physical presence that Sassuolo lacked.
His adaptation to Serie A has been gradual, and the defensive chaos around him did not provide the stable environment a new arrival requires. In seven appearances, he has shown flashes of the quality that persuaded the club to sign him โ strong in the air, composed on the ball โ but the collective failures have overshadowed individual contributions. D’Aversa’s three-man defence may suit him better, offering additional cover and allowing him to focus on the physical duels he excels in.
Fedde Leysen
Leysen is the loan arrival from Union Saint-Gilloise, signed in August to provide additional depth at centre-back. The 23-year-old Belgian, who stands at 6’3″ and is left-footed, arrived on a loan deal with an obligation to make the move permanent if Sassuolo avoid relegation. His profile โ tall, mobile, and comfortable in possession โ suggests a player suited to the demands of Serie A.
In six appearances, Leysen has shown promise but also the inconsistency of a young defender adapting to a new league. D’Aversa’s three-man defence may offer him a clearer role, with the additional cover allowing him to use his physical attributes without being exposed in one-on-one situations.
Sebastian Walukiewicz
Walukiewicz is the versatile defender capable of operating at right-back or centre-back. The 26-year-old Polish international has been a squad member since 2024, his height (6’2″) and recovery pace offering options across the back line. His own goal against Roma encapsulated the defensive malaise that cost Aquilani his job, but D’Aversa’s arrival offers a fresh start.
Josh Doig
Doig is Sassuolo’s most consistent full-back and one of the few defenders to emerge from the early-season chaos with credit. The 24-year-old Scottish international, signed from Verona in 2024, has started eleven matches and contributed one goal, his attacking thrust from left-back offering width in a team that has often lacked it. His defensive positioning remains a work in progress, but his energy and delivery make him a valuable asset.
In D’Aversa’s likely 3-4-2-1, Doig would operate as a left wing-back, a role that suits his attacking instincts while demanding greater defensive discipline than a conventional full-back.
Ignace Van Der Brempt
Van Der Brempt is the summer addition signed to address the right-back position. The 24-year-old Belgian arrived from Club Brugge, bringing Champions League experience and a profile suited to D’Aversa’s demands: athletic, aggressive, and comfortable in advanced positions. His adaptation has been disrupted by the managerial change, but his four appearances have offered glimpses of the quality that persuaded Sassuolo to invest.
Fali Candรฉ
Candรฉ is the versatile defensive option, capable of operating at centre-back or left-back. The 28-year-old Guinea-Bissau international has made four appearances this season, providing depth across the back line. At his best, he offers physicality and experience, though his minutes are likely to be limited under D’Aversa.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Sassuolo Defender Serie A Appearances (2026/27, pre-D’Aversa)
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Key Attribute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Doig | 11 | 1 | Attacking width, delivery |
| Duje ฤaleta-Car | 7 | 0 | Aerial dominance, experience |
| Fedde Leysen | 6 | 0 | Left-footed, ball-playing |
| Jay Idzes | 5 | 0 | Composure, positional discipline |
| Rafael Obrador | 5 | 0 | Loan addition, left-sided cover |
| Fali Candรฉ | 4 | 0 | Versatility, physicality |
| Cas Odenthal | 4 | 2 | Unexpected goal threat |
| Ignace Van Der Brempt | 4 | 0 | Athleticism, attacking thrust |
| Sebastian Walukiewicz | 3 | 0 | Recovery pace, versatility |
TABLE B: Sassuolo Defensive Unit โ Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded (first 11 matches) | 29 | Worst in Serie A |
| Clean Sheets | 0 | No league shutouts |
| League Position | 17th | One point above relegation |
| Managerial Change | November 2026 | Aquilani dismissed after Roma defeat |
TABLE C: Defender Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Idzes | Indonesia | Venezia | Composed centre-back, ball-playing, most valuable defender |
| Duje ฤaleta-Car | Croatia | Lyon, Marseille, Southampton | Aerial dominant, experienced international |
| Fedde Leysen | Belgium | Union Saint-Gilloise (loan) | Left-footed, mobile, development prospect |
| Josh Doig | Scotland | Verona, Hibernian | Attacking left-back, energetic, improving defensively |
| Ignace Van Der Brempt | Belgium | Club Brugge | Athletic right-back, Champions League experience |
| Sebastian Walukiewicz | Poland | Empoli, Cagliari | Versatile, recovery pace, error-prone |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Sassuolo’s defensive unit is a reconstruction in progress, and the early-season evidence suggests the reconstruction was far from complete before D’Aversa’s arrival. The summer signings โ ฤaleta-Car, Leysen, Van Der Brempt, Obrador โ represented a deliberate attempt to add height, experience, and depth to a back line that had been vulnerable throughout the previous campaign. The investment was significant, particularly for a club with Sassuolo’s financial constraints.
The results were disastrous. Twenty-nine goals conceded in eleven matches, no clean sheets, and a defence that appeared structurally incapable of withstanding sustained pressure. The individual quality was there โ Idzes is a โฌ14 million asset, ฤaleta-Car is a seasoned international โ but the collective organization was absent. Aquilani’s possession-based approach left the defence exposed, and the back four lacked the compactness and communication that Serie A’s forwards ruthlessly exploit.
D’Aversa’s arrival offers a reset. His three-man defence is designed to provide the additional cover that was missing, and his emphasis on “concepts over system” suggests a focus on defensive discipline rather than tactical complexity. The personnel are available: Idzes, ฤaleta-Car, and Leysen offer three credible centre-back options, while Doig and Van Der Brempt provide width as wing-backs. The question is whether D’Aversa can forge them into a cohesive unit before the relegation battle intensifies.
The Verdict from the Camp
Roberto D’Aversa on Sassuolo’s defensive problems:
“The numbers are important and in this moment we are the worst defence. It is certainly an aspect to improve, but it doesn’t only concern one department: we must work as a team. Everything starts from the mentality, not from the formation.”
D’Aversa on the tactical approach:
“Beyond the formation, the concepts matter above all. This team has technical quality, but you need determination and the ability to win individual duels. If this aspect is missing, everything becomes more complicated.”
Calcio News 24 on the defensive crisis:
“A choice dictated by the need to reverse a worrying trend, especially from a defensive point of view… 29 goals conceded in eleven matches.”
Where Next?
Sassuolo’s defensive priority for 2026/27 is stabilization. D’Aversa must forge a cohesive unit from a group of defenders who possess individual quality but have been collectively dysfunctional. The three-man defence offers a structural solution, providing additional cover for centre-backs who were repeatedly exposed under Aquilani. Idzes, ฤaleta-Car, and Leysen offer a blend of composure, experience, and youth that should, in theory, be capable of better than the 2.64 goals conceded per game that defined the Aquilani era.
The January window may offer an opportunity to reinforce, but Sassuolo’s financial constraints โ a net transfer profit of โฌ30 million in the summer โ suggest significant investment is unlikely. The solution must come from within: better organization, clearer roles, and the defensive discipline that D’Aversa has built his managerial reputation upon.
For now, the focus is on the next match and the next clean sheet. Sassuolo sit seventeenth, one point above the drop, with a defence that has been the worst in the division. D’Aversa has been hired to fix it, and the defenders he selects will determine whether the Neroverdi’s return to Serie A becomes a brief stay or a foundation for stability.
