In a cold midweek round last January, giants AC Milan made the short journey south to take on Serie A debutants Sassuolo in a clash that would have huge ramifications across the peninsula.
Domenico Berardi would turn in a wonderful performance, netting no less than four times as the Neroverdi stunned their opponents and notched a remarkable 4-3 victory.
It was arguably the highlight of the club’s debut top flight campaign, but it spelled the end for Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri, fired in the aftermath of what had previously been an unthinkable defeat.
But Sassuolo would prove it was no fluke, taking all three points when they visited San Siro a year later, before Berardi once again blitzed them in the return fixture back in May.
His hat-trick in that 3-2 triumph ensured Filippo Inzaghi would exit in the same manner as Allegri, and while the latter rebuilt his reputation after being appointed by Juventus just six months later, Milan have failed to do the same.
Indeed, despite further widespread changes both on and off the field, the Rossoneri continue to flounder, with Sinisa Mihajlovic faring little better than his predecessors so far this term.
Currently sitting in thirteenth place with just three wins from their opening eight fixtures, this weekend they will once again host Sassuolo, invoking painful memories of those previous clashes.
Yet while everything and nothing has changed at Milan, there is much more certainty and continuity to be found with their opponents.
The Neroverdi will likely be able to field a number of players from that most recent victory over Milan, with no fewer than nine of the side who won helped them record that win starting in last weekend’s triumph at home to Lazio.
That result propelled them into fourth place despite a difficult fixture list, including a win over Napoli on the opening day of the season and a credible draw with AS Roma.
Berardi of course continues to dominate the headlines, his well-struck penalty past Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti taking his tally to a staggering 32 goals and 17 assists in his first 66 Serie A appearances.
That has prompted interest from new Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Juventus – who retain an option to buy him the 21-year-old this summer.
Normally playing wide on the right, Berardi drifts across the pitch looking for openings while remaining something of an unconventional winger.
Preferring to play a pass to a team-mate rather than take on opponents, his perfectly timed off-the-ball running remains his most potent skill. He will hope to be part of the Italy squad at Euro 2016, but no matter how good he has been, Sassuolo are arguably performing even more impressively off the field.
Owner Giorgio Squinzi – who took control of the club three years ago – has repeatedly shown he is unafraid to spend money in order to support the team. His company Mapei have sponsored the club’s shirts in what is surprisingly Serie A’s most lucrative such deal, paying them €22 million per year.
They also purchased naming rights to Sassuolo’s Citta del Tricolore stadium, which itself was bought outright by Squinzi two years ago. Juventus and Udinese are the only other clubs on the peninsula to own their stadia, effectively providing the Neroverdi with yet another advantage over their rivals.
However, his most shrewd investment could well be Coach Eusebio Di Francesco, with the 46-year-old having carved out a fine reputation of his own during a three-year tenure.
Under his guidance, the team employ a high-octane and exciting brand of football, playing with pace and confidence in a manner that has endeared them to fans across the country.
They shun the traditional approach of most clubs, trusting in young Italian talent to the point that the current squad contains just three foreign players. That strategy has ensured that – despite the prominence of Berardi – Sassuolo are far more than just a one man team.
Balancing the side on the opposite flank, Nicola Sansone is a vastly underrated talent, cutting in from the left to help provide a flurry of chances for whoever is chosen to fill the central role.
Behind them is a functional but solid side, with veteran players like Paolo Cannavaro and Francesco Acerbi adding much-needed leadership and awareness, while Captain Francesco Magnanelli has been with the Neroverdi since they were in the fourth division.
There is also promising young full-back Sime Vrsaljko, who has learned from those experienced defenders around him to become a reliable and influential performer himself.
Rumoured to be a January target for Barcelona, the 23-year-old Croatian is unlikely to remain with the Emilia-Romagna outfit much longer.
Like Berardi and Sansone, Vrsaljko has undoubtedly benefited from the belief Di Francesco and the club has repeatedly shown in their young players.
Seeing Sassuolo so high in the table may be surprising to many, but it is also testament to their sound business planning, setting an example which many of Italy’s bigger clubs would do well to follow.
“We’re enjoying ourselves,” was the coach’s simple but honest reply to the secret of their success. Desperately in need of similar restructuring, Milan – and indeed Mihajlovic – could be forgiven for being nervous about their immediate future as they once again prepare to host Sassuolo this weekend.
