Sassuolo Battles Juventus Amid Whooping Cough Outbreak | Carnevali's Resolve

Sassuolo director Giovanni Carnevali acknowledged a challenging week for the club, navigating a whooping cough outbreak within the squad. Despite the difficulties, he affirmed their readiness to compete against Juventus.

The match is scheduled to kick off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET).

The team, known as the Neroverdi, is facing an unusual health crisis: a whooping cough epidemic has affected the squad. One case is confirmed, with five additional players isolated due to symptoms, though their names remain undisclosed for privacy reasons. However, key absences from the match-day squad, including Nemanja Matic, Kristian Thorstvedt, Woyo Coulibaly, and Stefano Turati, strongly suggest their involvement in the outbreak. These add to an existing list of injured players, namely Fali Candé, Alieu Fadera, Daniel Boloca, and Edoardo Pieragnolo.

Carnevali Has Faith in Decimated Sassuolo Squad

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia and DAZN Italia, Carnevali acknowledged, "This week has been incredibly tough, but our focus must be entirely on the match against a formidable opponent." He added, "Playing Juventus inherently brings added motivation, irrespective of our current challenges. While we recognize our less-than-ideal situation, we are confident in our ability to make our presence felt in this game." Carnevali also noted a positive update: "The players who fell ill are already showing signs of recovery. This situation, though difficult, also presents an opportunity for those who haven't had much playing time."

In preparation for the match, Sassuolo has reintroduced health protocols reminiscent of the Covid era to curb the spread of this highly contagious illness, which poses a serious risk, particularly to infants. Measures include avoiding handshakes before the game, refraining from swapping jerseys post-match, and advising families in the stands to maintain distance.

"Although we haven't secured a win against top clubs this season, we have consistently presented them with significant challenges," Carnevali stated.

The match also marks the debut start for 18-year-old Darryl Bakola, a January acquisition from Olympique Marseille for a reported €10 million, potentially rising to €12 million with add-ons. Carnevali elaborated, "He is a promising young talent, and Sassuolo has always prioritized developing youth. We made a substantial investment in him, pursuing him despite intense competition from more established clubs." He emphasized, "His long-term development is not contingent on this single match; it's a protracted project, and we are confident Sassuolo provides the perfect environment for his growth."

While Sassuolo also boasts seasoned players, Domenico Berardi notably missed out on a call-up to the Italy squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup play-offs. Carnevali expressed his thoughts: "I had certainly hoped he would be selected, given Domenico's excellent season. Now, our primary hope is simply that the Nazionale qualifies for the World Cup, irrespective of Berardi's involvement."