CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | US Sassuolo Calcio |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Roberto D’Aversa |
| Stadium | Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore |
| Nickname | I Neroverdi |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Veteran Anchor | Nemanja Matić |
| Breakout Star | Darryl Bakola |
| Creative Threat | Vasilije Adžić |
| Engine Room | Kristian Thorstvedt |
| Key Concern | Midfield bypassed in a defence that conceded 29 goals in 11 matches |
The Defining Moment
Sassuolo’s midfield entered 2026/27 as the youngest and most experimental department of Alberto Aquilani’s squad. The manager, overseeing the club’s second consecutive Serie A campaign, had constructed a midfield built around the 38-year-old Nemanja Matić as the solitary veteran, surrounded by a “green line” of twenty-somethings: Vasilije Adžić, Darryl Bakola, and Luca Lipani. The vision was one of technical development and tactical flexibility, with Matić providing the experience and composure that the younger players lacked.
The defining characteristic of the season, however, has been the gap between the midfield’s individual promise and the collective dysfunction that cost Aquilani his job. By the time the manager was dismissed in November, Sassuolo had conceded 29 goals in eleven matches, the worst defensive record in Serie A. The midfield, for all its technical quality, had been repeatedly bypassed in transition, offering insufficient protection to a back line that was already fragile. The 3-0 defeat to Roma, in which the midfield was overrun and the defence exposed, proved the final straw.
This is the story of Sassuolo’s 2026/27 midfielders: a Serbian veteran in the twilight of his career, a teenage Frenchman who has seized his opportunity, and a supporting cast navigating the most demanding tactical transition of the Aquilani era.
Tactical Context
Aquilani’s midfield structure was built on a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 that prioritised possession and technical combinations. Matić anchored the midfield as the regista, his experience and passing range providing the foundation for build-up. Around him, Bakola and Adžić offered dynamism and creativity, while Thorstvedt provided a more physical, box-to-box alternative.
The early-season numbers reflect a midfield that contributed to the attacking output but failed in its defensive responsibilities. Sassuolo scored 14 goals in their opening nine matches, a respectable return, but conceded 22. The balance was skewed: the midfield created chances but could not control games, leaving the defence exposed to repeated transitions. Adžić, in particular, impressed with three goals in seven appearances, his late runs into the penalty area offering a goal threat that few midfielders in the squad possessed. Bakola, at just 18, contributed two assists in eight appearances, his composure in possession belying his age.
The tactical question for D’Aversa is whether the midfield possesses the physical and defensive qualities that his pragmatic approach demands. The new manager favours compactness, intensity, and rapid transitions. Matić, at 38, cannot cover the ground that a high-intensity system requires. Bakola and Adžić are technically gifted but physically developing. Thorstvedt offers energy but lacks the technical refinement of his younger teammates. The balance between creativity and solidity remains unresolved.
The Midfielders
Nemanja Matić
Matić is the veteran anchor and the most experienced player in the squad. The 38-year-old Serbian, a former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder, arrived at Sassuolo to provide leadership and tactical intelligence to a young dressing room. His passing range, positional discipline, and reading of the game remain evident, and his presence has been invaluable in guiding the younger players around him.
The concern is physical. Matić has started eight of Sassuolo’s opening matches, accumulating 600 minutes, but the demands of Serie A are increasingly difficult to sustain. In a midfield that has been repeatedly bypassed, his lack of mobility has been exposed, and D’Aversa’s more aggressive system may require a different profile in the anchor role. At 38, Matić is a short-term solution, but a valuable one for his experience and composure.
Darryl Bakola
Bakola is the breakout star of Sassuolo’s midfield and one of the most promising young players in the squad. The 18-year-old Frenchman, who arrived from Marseille in January 2026, has established himself as a regular starter under Aquilani and is likely to remain central to D’Aversa’s plans.
His profile suits a possession-based approach. Bakola is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, his passing is crisp and intelligent, and his movement off the ball creates angles for teammates. In eight appearances, he has contributed two assists, demonstrating an end product that belies his age. At 18, he is still developing physically, but his technical quality and composure suggest a player capable of becoming a central figure in Sassuolo’s midfield for years to come.
Vasilije Adžić
Adžić is the creative threat and the midfield’s most productive goalscorer. The 20-year-old Montenegrin, on loan from Juventus with an option to make the move permanent, has scored three goals in seven appearances, his late runs into the penalty area and clinical finishing offering a dimension that few midfielders possess.
His profile is that of a modern attacking midfielder: technically gifted, tactically intelligent, and capable of operating in multiple roles. He can play as a mezzala in a 4-3-3, a trequartista in a 4-2-3-1, or even on the left flank. At 20, he represents a significant investment for Sassuolo, and his development will be closely monitored by Juventus, who retain a counter-option.
Kristian Thorstvedt
Thorstvedt is the engine room of the midfield, a 27-year-old Norwegian whose energy and physicality provide a counterpoint to the technical quality of Bakola and Adžić. His profile is that of a box-to-box midfielder: capable of covering ground, pressing aggressively, and contributing in both phases.
In eight appearances, Thorstvedt has scored once, his late runs into the box offering an additional goal threat. His minutes have been managed carefully, with four starts and four substitute appearances, but his importance to the squad’s balance is significant. Under D’Aversa, his physical attributes may be valued more highly than they were under Aquilani.
Luca Lipani
Lipani is the academy graduate and the youngest of the midfield regulars. The 21-year-old Italian, a product of Genoa’s youth system who joined Sassuolo in 2023, has accumulated 54 appearances across three seasons, establishing himself as a reliable squad member.
His profile is that of a central midfielder capable of operating in a two or a three. He has started three of Sassuolo’s opening matches, accumulating 295 minutes, and his development continues under the guidance of Matić and the coaching staff. At 21, he represents the future of Sassuolo’s midfield, though his minutes may be limited by the competition for places.
Ibrahim Sulemana
Sulemana is the physical alternative, a 23-year-old Ghanaian midfielder whose energy and ball-carrying ability offer a different dimension to the technical options around him. His minutes have been limited by the form of Bakola and Adžić, but his profile may suit D’Aversa’s more pragmatic approach.
Cristian Volpato
Volpato is the creative wildcard, a 22-year-old Australian-Italian attacking midfielder whose technical quality and dribbling ability offer something different in the final third. His season has been disrupted by injury, but his return to fitness would provide D’Aversa with an additional option behind the striker.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: Sassuolo Midfielder Serie A Statistics (2026/27, pre-D’Aversa)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darryl Bakola | 8 (7) | 612 | 0 | 2 | Composure, passing |
| Nemanja Matić | 8 (8) | 600 | 0 | 1 | Experience, positioning |
| Vasilije Adžić | 7 (5) | 364 | 3 | 1 | Late runs, finishing |
| Kristian Thorstvedt | 8 (4) | 340 | 1 | 0 | Energy, physicality |
| Luca Lipani | 8 (3) | 295 | 0 | 0 | Development, versatility |
TABLE B: Sassuolo Midfield Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Team Goals Conceded (first 11 matches) | 29 | Worst in Serie A |
| Midfield Goals | 4 | Adžić (3), Thorstvedt (1) |
| Midfield Assists | 4 | Bakola (2), Adžić (1), Matić (1) |
| Average Age of Regular Starters | 24.6 | Matić (38) skews the figure |
TABLE C: Midfielder Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemanja Matić | Serbia | Chelsea, Manchester United, Roma | Veteran regista, positional discipline, declining mobility |
| Darryl Bakola | France | Marseille | Technically gifted teenager, composed passer, developing physically |
| Vasilije Adžić | Montenegro | Juventus (loan) | Creative attacking midfielder, goal threat, tactically versatile |
| Kristian Thorstvedt | Norway | Genk | Box-to-box midfielder, physical, energetic |
| Luca Lipani | Italy | Genoa Academy | Reliable central midfielder, development prospect |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Sassuolo’s midfield is a unit caught between two identities. Aquilani’s vision was one of technical development and possession-based football, with Matić providing the experience and Bakola and Adžić the creativity. The result was a midfield that contributed to the attacking output but failed in its defensive responsibilities, exposing a defence that was already fragile.
D’Aversa’s arrival offers a reset. His pragmatic approach demands compactness and intensity, qualities that the current midfield possesses only partially. Matić’s lack of mobility is a concern in a system that requires covering ground. Bakola and Adžić are technically gifted but physically developing. Thorstvedt and Sulemana offer energy but lack the technical refinement of their younger teammates. The balance between creativity and solidity remains unresolved.
The January window may offer an opportunity to add a more physically dominant midfielder, but Sassuolo’s financial constraints and the priority of defensive reinforcement make significant investment unlikely. For now, D’Aversa must work with what he has: a veteran approaching the end of his career, a teenage prospect exceeding expectations, and a supporting cast searching for the right balance.
The Verdict from the Camp
Quotidiano Sportivo on Sassuolo’s young midfield:
“Nemanja Matić (38 years old) acts as a hen mother to a platoon of twenty-somethings… It is, in short, a ‘green line,’ that midfield that Aquilani is building, and within which the three twenty-year-olds will have the opportunity to make themselves noticed, also thanks to their tactical versatility.”
Calcio News 24 on D’Aversa’s tactical approach:
“D’Aversa, on the other hand, is a more pragmatic coach, who attributes great importance to defensive compactness, intensity and the ability to attack spaces quickly. His teams often seek depth through the movements of the wide players and mezzali, without giving up aggression in the non-possession phase.”
DAZN on the midfield hierarchy:
“In midfield, Matić is the starting regista, while Bakola guarantees dynamism, quality in ball management and late runs. Adžić and Thorstvedt remain in competition for the other position.”
Where Next?
Sassuolo’s midfield priority for 2026/27 is balance. The individual talent exists — Bakola’s composure, Adžić’s goal threat, Thorstvedt’s energy — but the combination has yet to coalesce into a unit capable of controlling games and protecting the defence. D’Aversa’s pragmatic approach may demand a more physically dominant presence alongside Matić, or a shift toward a three-man midfield that offers greater cover.
The longer-term question is the transition from Matić. At 38, the Serbian cannot be relied upon beyond this season, and the club must identify a successor capable of providing the experience and composure he offers. Bakola and Lipani are candidates, but neither is yet a finished product. Adžić’s loan arrangement complicates the long-term planning, with Juventus retaining a counter-option that could see him return to Turin.
For now, the focus is on the next match and the next performance. Sassuolo sit seventeenth, one point above the relegation zone, with a midfield that has contributed to the attacking output but failed in its defensive responsibilities. D’Aversa has been hired to fix the balance, and the midfielders he selects will determine whether the Neroverdi’s return to Serie A becomes a brief stay or a foundation for stability.
