The 2009-10 campaign was a season of soaring ambition for Sassuolo as the Neroverdi, under the guidance of future Serie A manager Stefano Pioli, surged to an impressive 4th-place finish in Serie B and secured a coveted spot in the promotion play-offs for the first time. Leading the charge was the prolific forward Alessandro Noselli, whose 18 goals anchored a side that earned 69 points and cemented their status as a major challenger in the Italian second division. The dream of a historic Serie A promotion ultimately fell short in the play-off semi-finals, losing a hard-fought battle to powerhouse Torino FC, but the team could hold their heads high, having established themselves as a legitimate force in the league.