Laurienté double sets up comfortable Sassuolo win

Sassuolo made an explosive start to their pre-season fixture against Padova, stamping their authority on the match from the opening exchanges. The home side came out with clear intent and purpose, creating space and moving the ball with fluidity in the early stages. The Emilia-Romagna outfit's attacking setup quickly proved too much for their lower-league opponents to handle.

The scoreline reflected Sassuolo's dominance almost immediately. Armand Laurienté opened the scoring just six minutes in, then doubled his tally moments later on seven minutes to give the hosts a commanding 2-0 lead inside the opening quarter hour. Padova pulled one back through Matteo Bortolussi on 23 minutes when he found the net to offer brief encouragement to the visitors. That goal briefly suggested a contest might develop, but Sassuolo reasserted control and kept Padova at arm's length for the remainder of the first half.

The second period saw Sassuolo continue to dictate proceedings without ever needing to shift through the gears. The hosts managed the game expertly and added a fourth goal through Luca Moro on 56 minutes, which essentially settled the contest beyond doubt. Padova offered precious little in the way of a genuine threat after falling further behind, with Sassuolo's defensive shape remaining solid throughout.

The emphatic 4-1 victory handed Sassuolo an encouraging warm-up ahead of the competitive season, while for Padova it represented a useful fitness exercise against superior opposition. Laurienté's brace will have pleased manager and supporters alike, while the clinical finishing on display suggested the squad is in good shape ahead of what lies ahead.