Pippo Inzaghi insists Sassuolo are hitting the headlines now, but “in a few months we could be talking about Bologna as one of the surprises of the season.”

It kicks off at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.

The Rossoblu are missing Danilo, Federico Mattiello and Mitchell Dijks, while Godfred Donsah is unlikely to pass a fitness test either.

Pippo Inzaghi insists Sassuolo are hitting the headlines now, but “in a few months we could be talking about Bologna as one of the surprises of the season.”

It kicks off at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.

The Rossoblu are missing Danilo, Federico Mattiello and Mitchell Dijks, while Godfred Donsah is unlikely to pass a fitness test either.

“We did practice four at the back as well as 3-5-2, so we have alternatives. We played 4-3-3 against Torino,” noted Inzaghi in his Press conference.

“In any case, it’s not so much about the system as the way that is interpreted. I am not so arrogant as to think the system dictates everything. My job as Coach is to put the players in the position to give their best.

“People always see the glass half-empty, whereas I’d like them to see it half-full. We’ve got some very young players who could do with a hand rather than being criticised. Sometimes when I read the papers it looks as if we’re already relegated.”

This is a local derby with Sassuolo, who have taken over from Bologna and even Parma as the most successful club in Emilia-Romagna.

“They play very well, perhaps the best football in Italy right now. I read that they are stronger than us and we hope to turn that prediction upside down,” said Inzaghi.

“I hope that by the end of the season, Sassuolo won’t have done any more than us. They are doing very well at the moment, there’s no point denying it, but I think in a few months we could be talking about Bologna as one of the surprises of the season.

“It is true that Sassuolo asked me to join them the year I was on the Milan Primavera youth team bench, then Alberto Malesani took the job and Milan wouldn’t let me go anyway.

“I have always thanked patron Giorgio Squinzi and Sassuolo for thinking of me. I am happy to be at Bologna and it might take a few months, but we’ll be challenging for something other than mere safety.”

Bologna squad for Sassuolo: Da Costa, Skorupski, Santurro; Calabresi, De Maio, Gonzalez, Helander, Mbaye, Paz, Corbo; Donsah, Dzemaili, Krejci, Nagy, Poli, Pulgar, Svanberg, Valencia; Destro, Falcinelli, Okwonkwo, Orsolini, Palacio, Santander

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