Champions Inter Milan Stunned Again By Relegation Fighters Sassuolo

Sassuolo stunned newly-crowned Italian champions Inter Milan for the second time this season on Saturday with a 1-0 win which kept alive their hopes of staying in Serie A. Armand Lauriente's rasping first-time strike in the 20th minute gave his team their first win in seven matches and inflicted a first league defeat on Inter since Sassuolo won at the San Siro in late September. "We didn't approach the game well, but after their goal we improved. We probably deserved to be level at half-time," said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi to Sky Sport.

"But even though we tried to change things we created little in the second half. We should have done more."

Davide Ballardini's side are still second from bottom, three points from safety, and have a big task on their hands if they are to stay in Serie A with three matches remaining in their campaign.

Udinese are level on 29 points with Sassuolo and sit just inside the drop zone ahead of their home fixture with Napoli on Monday night.

Two points above that pair are Empoli and Frosinone, who face off on Sunday afternoon, and also Verona who host Fiorentina.

Saturday's win was Sassuolo's 10th over Inter since first being promoted to Serie A in 2013, more than the traditional tiny club have had against any other top division team.

They beat a largely second-string Inter who won their 20th league title last month and are in cruise control until the end of a triumphant campaign.

Inter were denied a leveller on the stroke of half-time when Lautaro Martinez's close-range finish was ruled out for offside but offered little otherwise.

Martinez is Serie A's leading scorer but has been stuck on 23 league goals since the end of February, while Inter failed to score in a league match for the first