SASSUOLO, ITALY — Kristian Thorstvedt rose highest in the 24th minute to nod home Sebastian Walukiewicz's pinpoint cross, rescuing a crucial point for Sassuolo in a 1-1 draw against regional rivals Parma. The Norwegian midfielder's intervention proved vital after the visitors had stunned the Mapei Stadium into silence just 12 minutes earlier, ensuring the ninth-placed hosts avoided back-to-back defeats.
The match exploded into life within the opening half-hour. Mateo Pellegrino gave 15th-placed Parma a dream start in the 12th minute, unleashing a left-footed strike from outside the box that nestled into the bottom left corner, leaving Arijanet Muric with no chance. The Argentine forward's clinical finish rewarded Parma's bright opening, but their lead lasted just 12 minutes. Thorstvedt attacked Walukiewicz's delivery with purpose, directing his header into the bottom left corner to level the contest and ignite the home support.
The battle for midfield supremacy defined the afternoon. The teams shared possession almost equally at 52.6%-47.4%, with neither side able to establish prolonged control. Adrián Bernabé orchestrated Parma's attacks with composure, threading passes through Sassuolo's lines and winning crucial free kicks in dangerous areas. Nemanja Matic anchored the Sassuolo midfield with his physical presence, though his aggressive approach earned him a 59th-minute yellow card for a foul on Bernabé. Josh Doig came agonizingly close to giving Sassuolo the lead in the 49th minute, striking the left post after excellent build-up play involving Armand Laurienté.
Parma created more chances throughout the contest, registering 16 shots to Sassuolo's 11, with five efforts forcing saves from Muric compared to just two at the other end. The visitors' attacking intent was clear, earning seven corners to Sassuolo's four, yet they lacked the cutting edge to convert territorial advantage into goals. Gaetano Oristanio and substitute Pontus Almqvist both tested Muric in the second half, but the Sassuolo goalkeeper stood firm when called upon.
The turning point arrived in the final moments when Sebastian Walukiewicz received his second yellow card in the 90th minute for a bad foul, reducing Sassuolo to 10 men. The dismissal invited late pressure from Parma, who sensed an opportunity to snatch all three points. Alessandro Circati also saw yellow in the 89th minute as tempers frayed during the frantic finale. Despite their numerical advantage, Parma couldn't breach a resolute Sassuolo defense that held firm through five minutes of stoppage time.
Looking ahead, Sassuolo will host Juventus on January 6, while Parma welcome Internazionale on January 7.