Derby draw at Mapei: Parma safe, Grosso stumble at home | OneFootball

2026 begins without winners or losers at the Mapei Stadium. Sassuolo and Parma share the spoils in a lively but at times imprecise derby, which ends 1-1. Looking at the standings, it’s a point that especially makes the visitors smile: Cuesta’s team brings home their third consecutive positive result away from home and maintains a reassuring six-point cushion above the relegation zone. For Grosso’s Neroverdi, however, the home curse continues (just one win in their last six at the Mapei) and their dream of catching the train to Europe suffers a slight setback.

Sassuolo-Parma 1-1: Thorstvedt and Pellegrino trade blows. The Argentine’s gem is worth its weight in gold

The match heats up immediately with a lightning-quick exchange. In the 12th minute, Sassuolo takes the lead: a perfect cross from Walukiewicz and a powerful leap from Kristian Thorstvedt, who takes advantage of Valenti’s lapse to head in the 1-0. Parma’s response, however, is not long in coming and bears the signature of their brightest jewel. In the 23rd minute, Mateo Pellegrino wins the ball and, from 20 meters out, curls a left-footed shot with pinpoint precision into the corner, leaving Muric with no chance. A real gem that restores the balance.

In the second half, the pace remains high but clear chances become fewer. Sassuolo comes close to retaking the lead with Doig, who hits the outside of the post after an assist from Laurienté, while Parma grows into the game thanks to Bernabé’s direction and Almqvist’s bursts, stopped only by a very alert Muric on two occasions. In the final minutes, the teams, tired, settle for the result: it ends in a fair draw, which moves the standings but doesn’t ignite much enthusiasm.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.