Serie A: Parma 1-0 Sassuolo — Pellegrino Header Ends Season on High

Parma beat Sassuolo in festive derby marked by injuries

Parma finished their campaign with a derby win against Sassuolo thanks to Mateo Pellegrino’s towering header. Both sides played with heavily depleted squads.

Mateo Pellegrino scored his sixth headed goal of the season as Parma beat Sassuolo 1-0. The striker now leads Serie A for headed goals in 2025-26...

Mateo Pellegrino scored his sixth headed goal of the season, more than any other player in Serie A, as Parma finished the campaign with a win over Sassuolo.

The local derby had a festive atmosphere since both sides had already secured comfortable mid-table safety. Still, both squads were heavily depleted for the final round, and there was speculation that either coach could be leaving.

Parma were without Zion Suzuki, Nesta Elphege, Adrian Bernabé, Gaetano Oristanio, Gabriel Strefezza, Enrico Delprato, Benja Cremaschi, Nahuel Estevez, Filippo Rinaldi, Matija Frigan and Jacob Ondrejka. Sassuolo, known as the Neroverdi, were missing Sebastian Walukiewicz, Aster Vranckx, Daniel Boloca, Filippo Romagna, Fali Candé and Darryl Bakola.

Hans Nicolussi Caviglia and Mateo Pellegrino both sent early efforts flashing just wide. Daniel Mikolajewski also had a chance but could not keep his shot down after a weak punch from the goalkeeper.

Lautaro Valenti came close with a header from a free kick. Sassuolo’s first real chance came when Edoardo Corvi misjudged Domenico Berardi’s free kick, but debutant Tommaso Macchioni failed to convert the rebound.

Corvi was decisive again to deny Ismael Kone on the tap-in. Armand Laurienté then wasted a good opportunity, scuffing his finish after a give-and-go with Berardi played him through on goal.

Jay Idzes had been a doubt before the match and eventually limped off in the second half. Stefano Turati made a key save, flying to tip Nicolussi Caviglia’s powerful strike over the bar.

We end the season on a win! 🔥💛💙 pic.twitter.com/7SmEQyTDuM

— Parma Calcio 1913 (@ParmaCalcio_en) May 24, 2026

Pontus Almqvist came close when his curling shot skimmed the base of the far post from a difficult angle. Parma eventually broke the deadlock when Almqvist delivered a cross from the right for Pellegrino to head home.

Mateo Pellegrino is the Panini Player of the Match 👏#ParmaSassuolo pic.twitter.com/FISmrFGNG8

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) May 24, 2026

It was Parma’s ninth headed goal of the Serie A season. Pellegrino scored six of them, more than any other player in the league.