Domenico Berardi's first-half goal has handed Sassuolo a 1-0 away victory over AC Chievo Verona in Serie A this afternoon.

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Berardi almost opened the scoring for the visitors in the eighth minute, but his effort whistled over the bar having looked headed for the top corner of goal.

Chievo should have gone ahead through Bostjan Cesar as he met Cyril Thereau's cross with his head, but the resulting effort flew wide of the post.

Sassuolo responded by grabbing an opening goal five minutes before the end of the first half as Berardi latched onto a ball from Antonio Floro Flores to slot home from the six-yard box.

Gennaro Sardo wasted a perfect opportunity to steal a point for Chievo late on when he headed wide of goal, before Gianluca Pegolo pulled off a timely save to deny Adrian Stoian's long-range effort with just a minute to go.