Juventus vs Sassuolo

Juventus surrendered their unbeaten start to the 2026 Serie A campaign on Sunday, falling 3-2 to Sassuolo after a 94th-minute strike from their own loanee, Vasilije Adžić, decided a frantic Matchday 4 contest at the Mapei Stadium. The stoppage-time loss leaves the Turin club reeling just days before their European schedule begins.[1][5]

The decisive moment arrived with the final kick of the game. Deep into the four minutes of allotted stoppage time, Adžić collected a loose clearance at the edge of the penalty area, took one touch to set himself, and drove a low shot past the Juventus goalkeeper. The 20-year-old Montenegrin midfielder, currently on a season-long loan from Juventus, refused to celebrate as the home crowd erupted.[1][2]

None of the cited match reports carried direct post-match quotes from either manager or player, but the sequence perfectly encapsulated what BeSoccer described as "the harsh law of the ex," capturing the irony of Juventus being undone by their own prospect. Goal.com similarly noted that the "former Adzic punishes Juventus in the 94th minute," highlighting the dramatic timing of a victory secured at the very last second.[1][4]

The late drama capped a wild second half that saw the two sides trade three goals in the final 15 minutes. Juventus had initially established control, dominating possession with a 62 percent share through the first hour, but struggled to break down a disciplined Sassuolo defensive block.[3]

The visitors finally broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when Dušan Vlahović converted a penalty, awarded after a VAR review confirmed a handball in the box. The Serbian striker's third goal of the 2026 season appeared to put Thiago Motta's side on course for a routine away victory.[3][5]

Sassuolo responded immediately. Just three minutes later, winger Armand Laurienté equalized with a curling effort from 20 yards out, punishing a defensive lapse from the Juventus backline. The momentum shifted entirely to the home side, who began committing more bodies forward in search of a winner.[3]

Juventus briefly reclaimed the advantage in the 86th minute through a close-range header from substitute Kenan Yıldız, making it 2-1. However, Sassuolo leveled the match again in the 89th minute when Andrea Pinamonti redirected a cross into the net, setting the stage for the dramatic three-goal finale that Anadolu Ajansı highlighted.[3]

AI

The result marks a significant setback for Juventus, who had opened their Serie A campaign with two wins and a draw, conceding only one goal prior to Sunday's trip to Reggio Emilia. The three goals allowed against Sassuolo double their defensive deficit for the month of September and raise immediate tactical questions.[5]

For Sassuolo, the 3-2 upset provides a critical injection of momentum. After a sluggish start to the 2026 season that yielded just two points from their first three fixtures, the Matchday 4 victory lifts them out of the early relegation conversation and into the mid-table pack.[2]

Juventus must now regroup on a tight turnaround. The squad returns to Turin to prepare for their opening UEFA Champions League group stage fixture on Wednesday, where they will face a demanding European test with a defense that suddenly looks vulnerable to late transitions.[5]