After rough debut in Serie A, Sassuolo starting to dig in

After starting the season so badly, including a 7-0 drubbing by Inter, Sassuolo deserve credit for battling to draws against heavyweights Napoli and Lazio, writes Ian Hawkey.

Sassuolo's Antonio Floro Flores, right, celebrates with his teammate Ezequiel Schelotto after scoring the 2-2 equalizer against Lazio on Sunday. Elisabetta Baracchi / EPA

In Italy’s football pyramid, meteoric rises are rare. There are few recent equivalents to a Hoffenheim of Germany’s Bundesliga or a Swansea City of the English Premier League, clubs who clambered quickly through the divisions and asserted themselves in the top tier.

Chievo did it, but their last promotion was over a decade ago.

As for small-town Sassuolo, their ascent was until last week looking like the prelude a very heavy fall.

Seven years ago, Sassuolo were in the fourth tier, Serie C2. Their promotion to Serie A in May brought a refreshing newcomer to the top table. But they looked ill-equipped.

After losing their opener 2-0 at Torino, they suffered an alarming 4-1 loss to Livorno, who they had beaten to the Serie B title four months earlier. Next up, fellow promotees Verona won 2-0. The message seemed clear: Livorno and Verona knew from past experience what was needed to survive among the big boys, while Sassuolo did not.

Then Sassuolo hosted Inter Milan, and were walloped 7-0, hardly the ideal preparation for a trip, four days later, to the ferocious San Paolo, Naples.

Eusebio di Francesco, their coach, motivated his players with examples of how much the press favoured a Napoli win. And that motivated them, even after falling a goal down. It finished 1-1.

On Sunday against Lazio, Sassuolo went two goals down. Again they came back to claim their second Serie A point. Bravo to the small-town club who have finally shown they have big hearts.