Sassuolo continued to pepper the Empoli goal as they sought an equaliser before the break but the best of their numerous efforts saw Missiroli's downward header awkwardly pushed out by Bassi.
And it might have been even more frustrating for the home side as Empoli twice came close to extending their lead at the end of the half, Massimo Maccarone almost capitalising on a spill by Sassuolo keeper Andrea Consigli before Matias Vecino saw a brilliantly-executed volley smash against the top of the post.
