Sassuolo and Parma battled to a 1-1 draw in a fiercely contested Serie A clash that saw both sides cancel each other out despite Parma’s territorial advantage.
The home side struck first when Kristian Thorstvedt opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on creative work from Sebastian Walukiewicz, who recorded the assist along with three key passes in an impressive all-around display from the defender. The Norwegian midfielder’s finish gave Sassuolo an early advantage they hoped to protect.
Parma responded with purpose, however, and their persistence paid dividends in the 24th minute. Mateo Pellegrino restored parity with a clinical finish, ensuring the visitors headed into halftime level after dominating much of the possession and chance creation.
The second half became a tactical chess match, with both managers making wholesale changes seeking the winner. Nemanja Matić picked up a yellow card in the 59th minute as tensions rose, while late bookings for Alessandro Circati and Walukiewicz reflected the increasing intensity.
Despite Parma’s superiority in key statistics—16 shots to Sassuolo’s 11, seven corners to four, and 11 interceptions compared to six—they couldn’t find the breakthrough. Adrián Bernabé orchestrated play brilliantly with five key passes, while Mandela Keita was a defensive lynchpin with four interceptions earning him the match’s highest rating at 7.7.
Sassuolo goalkeeper Arijanet Murić proved the difference, making four crucial saves to preserve the point. His heroics frustrated Parma’s attacking efforts and complemented Walukiewicz’s 7.6-rated performance at the back.
With Sassuolo controlling 52.5% possession and maintaining a superior 90% pass completion rate, they demonstrated resilience, but Parma’s greater tactical efficiency and shot volume suggest they’ll feel disappointed not to claim all three points from this Emilia-Romagna derby stalemate.
