Preview: Cremonese vs Fiorentina – prediction, team news, lineups

Meeting on Monday evening for a relegation six-pointer, Cremonese and Fiorentina will lock horns at Stadio Zini.

The Series A Strugglers are separated by one level within the standings, with the Viola simply forward of their free-falling hosts.

Match preview

Despite slowly enhancing after a disastrous begin, Fiorentina are nonetheless scrapping for high-flight survival, with demotion to Serie B remaining a really actual prospect.

Following a 3-0 defeat to Udinese and final week’s residence draw with Parma, they sit simply outdoors the drop zone – partly because of the grim type of 18th-positioned Cremonese.

While Paolo Vanoli‘s aspect have solely misplaced considered one of their final 5 league matches, they’ve failed to attain within the final two, additionally averaging underneath one purpose per recreation on their journeys this season.

Before resuming their relegation struggle in Cremona, the Viola continued one other Conference League marketing campaign on Thursday night, when Rakow Czestochowa have been the guests at a half-empty Stadio Franchi.

After surviving an enormous scare within the playoffs – the place they finally edged previous Jagiellonia Bialystok – Vanoli’s males needed to host one other Polish aspect within the first leg of their final-16 tie.

Conference League runners-up twice up to now three years – and semi-finalists final time period – the Tuscan membership have struggled in Europe this season, and it was removed from easy crusing in opposition to Rakow.

Fiorentina fell behind on the hour mark, however Cher Ndour swept an nearly prompt equalizer into the highest nook, earlier than Roberto Piccoli clipped the crossbar and Albert Gudmundsson coolly transformed to stoppage-time penalty.

1 / 4-last conflict with both Crystal Palace or AEK Larnaca will probably be at stake within the second leg, however they have to first take care of home issues.

Beaten by a late Moise Kean strike in January’s reverse fixture, Cremonese have but to style victory in opposition to the Viola in Serie A.

In 13 earlier conferences at Italy’s elite stage, the Grigiorossi have misplaced seven and drawn six, so they are going to be in search of a slice of historical past on Monday.

More pertinently, Cremo should win to overhaul Fiorentina in a decent relegation struggle – and to halt their nosedive again in direction of the second tier.

David Nicola‘s aspect have collected fewer factors than anybody else throughout the final 14 matchdays – simply 4 – and their final success got here on the tail finish of 2025.

A meagre tally of 4 objectives this calendar yr tells its personal story, and Cremonese have failed to attain in every of their final 4 residence video games – their worst-ever run in Serie A.

Having misplaced an enormous survival contest final day out in opposition to Lecce – when Jamie Vardy limped off earlier than two controversial choices value them a degree – Cremo merely need to cease the rot in opposition to Fiorentina.

Cremonese Series A kind:

LLDLLL

Fiorentina Serie A kind:

LDWWLD

Fiorentina kind (all competitions):

WWLLDW

Team News

© Imago / Gribaudi

Vanoli has tried to rotate his restricted assets between European and home fixtures, and he’ll achieve this once more on Monday night, forward of a tough journey to Poland.

Nicolo Fagioli, Dodo and captain David de Gea are all set to return after being benched in opposition to Rakow, however Kean could miss out once more: Fiorentina’s star striker remains to be battling a shin drawback.

Luca Lezzerini, Tariq Lamptey and Manor Solomon are injured, however Croatian heart-again Marin Pongracic can return after serving a UEFA suspension.

Meanwhile, Vardy has been dominated out by the knock that compelled him off in Lecce; Federico Bonazzoli broke a 13-recreation drought final week, and he’ll lead the hosts’ assault.

Wingback Giuseppe Pezzella noticed purple amid a feisty conclusion to Cremo’s important six-pointer on the Via del Mare, so he should serve a one-match ban.

Nicola will even be with out injured trio Federico Baschirotto, Michele Collocolo and Faris Moumbagna, however AC Milan loanee Filippo Terracciano is again from suspension.

Cremonese attainable beginning lineup:

Audero; Terracciano, Bianchetti, Luperto; Barbieri, Thorsby, Maleh, Vandeputte, Zerbin; Bonazzoli, Djuric

Fiorentina attainable beginning lineup:

De Gea; Dodo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Brescianini, Fagioli, Mandragora; Parisi, Piccoli, Gudmundsson

We say: Cremonese 1-2 Fiorentina

Expect a tense encounter at Stadio Zini, the place defeat for both aspect might show extremely pricey – after this conflict, solely 9 video games stay to safe Serie A survival.

Still removed from the completed article, Fiorentina have proven indicators of enchancment, whereas Cremonese are sinking with no hint: victory will raise the Viola 4 factors away from the drop zone.

For information evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.