Cremonese vs Fiorentina – News and Probable Lineups

On Monday night, Cremonese will meet Fiorentina in a crucial relegation clash at Stadio Zini.

Only a point stands between the Serie A bottom teams, with Fiorentina slightly ahead of their struggling opponents.

Match overview

Fiorentina has shown gradual improvement after a rough beginning, but they remain in a battle for survival in the top division, with the risk of falling to Serie B looming large.

After suffering a 3-0 defeat to Udinese and managing a home draw against Parma last week, they find themselves just outside the relegation zone – aided by the poor form of 18th-placed Cremonese.

Though Paolo Vanoli’s team has lost only one of their last five league matches, they’ve been unable to score in their last two outings and are averaging less than one goal per game on the road this term.

Before they resume their relegation battle in Cremona, the Viola hosted Rakow Czestochowa in another Conference League match on Thursday, which took place at a sparsely filled Stadio Franchi.

Having narrowly navigated through the playoffs against Jagiellonia Bialystok, Vanoli’s squad faced yet another Polish opponent in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

As two-time Conference League runners-up in the last three years and semi-finalists last season, the Tuscan side have had a tough time in European competition this year, and their match against Rakow wasn’t without its challenges.

Fiorentina fell behind an hour into the match, but Cher Ndour quickly leveled the score with a well-placed strike into the top corner; Roberto Piccoli later hit the crossbar, and Albert Gudmundsson successfully converted a penalty in stoppage time.

In the return leg, a quarter-final spot against either Crystal Palace or AEK Larnaca will be on the line, but they first need to focus on domestic challenges.

Cremonese suffered a narrow defeat by a late goal from Moise Kean in the previous fixture in January and has not managed to secure a win against Fiorentina in Serie A thus far.

Across 13 previous encounters at Italy’s top level, the Grigiorossi have recorded seven losses and six draws, and they will be aiming for a historic victory on Monday.

Crucially, Cremo needs a win to surpass Fiorentina in the intense relegation battle and prevent sinking further towards the second tier.

Davide Nicola’s team has accrued the fewest points of any club over the last 14 matchdays – a mere four – with their last triumph coming at the very end of 2025.

Only scoring four goals this year is a telling statistic, and Cremonese has failed to find the net in their last four home fixtures – setting a record low in Serie A.

After losing a vital survival match last time out against Lecce, where Jamie Vardy was forced off due to injury and two controversial calls cost them crucial points, Cremo must end their poor run against Fiorentina.

Team News

Vanoli has been rotating his limited lineup between European and domestic competitions, and he will do so once more on Monday evening, in anticipation of a difficult trip to Polônia.

Nicolo Fagioli, Dodo, and captain David de Gea are expected to return after being rested against Rakow, but Kean may be sidelined again due to a shin injury.

Luca Lezzerini, Tariq Lamptey, and Manor Solomon remain out with injuries, but Croatian center-back Marin Pongracic is eligible to return after completing a UEFA suspension.

On the other hand, Vardy has recovered from the knock he received in Lecce, but the veteran might find his place in jeopardy following a dry spell; Federico Bonazzoli ended a 13-match drought last week and is likely to lead the attack for the hosts.

Wing-back Giuseppe Pezzella received a red card during a tense finish to Cremo’s crucial clash at the Via del Mare, so he is set to serve a one-match suspension.

Nicola will also be missing the injured trio of Federico Baschirotto, Michele Collocolo, and Faris Moumbagna, though AC Milan loanee Filippo Terracciano is back from suspension.

Cremonese probable starting XI:

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

Fiorentina probable starting XI:

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

An intense matchup is anticipated at Stadio Zini, where a defeat for either side could have severe repercussions – with just nine games left in the quest for Serie A survival.

Fiorentina is still a work in progress, showing flashes of improvement, while Cremonese appears to be struggling significantly: a win would put the Viola four points clear of the relegation zone.