A quick-fire brace off the bench for the youngster. Giacomo Raspadori, MVP of the matchday 16 in Serie A according to Opta’s stats, took centre stage at La Spezia's Picco stadium and led Sassuolo to another comeback, following their impressive fightback against Napoli in the midweek game. The Neraverdi were two goals down against Thiago Motta's Spezia when Dionsi decided to throw the 21-year-old into the fray at the start of the second half. It is also worth bearing in mind that he had not scored in the league since August (his last goal coming against Verona at the Bentegodi, Sassuolo's first in Serie A this year). There had been some criticism and bemusement about his form in front of goal, but these questions were soon put to bed by Raspadori out on the field. A long overdue and well-deserved reprisal for the youngster who is now a regular in Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri side and who, for tactical reasons, had selflessly played out of his comfort zone on the wing during the first part of the season.

Giacomo Raspadori scored his 10th and 11th Serie A goals in the 2-2 draw in Liguria: out of all the players born in this century who have already reached double figures in the topflight, only Kean and Kulusevski are younger than the Sassuolo striker. And only Roma’s Afena-Gyan is younger than Raspadori among those who have scored at least two goals as a substitute in a single Serie A match. His performance was excellent on the whole: coming on with the right attitude, he took five shots (more than anyone else in the match), created three chances for his team-mates (another first in the match) and scored his second brace in the topflight (the other coming in April at San Siro against AC Milan) with goals in the 66th and 79th minute. Promising figures for a young man doing all he can to display his talent and last weekend in La Spezia, he did exactly that.

 

His stats from the game against Spezia

Minutes played: 45

Total shots: 5

Shots on target: 3

Chances created: 3

Touches in the opponent's box: 3