Cremonese vs. Sassuolo
Bonazzoli’s spectacular overhead kick in the 2-1 win against AC Milan catapulted Cremonese straight to 5th place in the table, while Sassuolo is already under considerable pressure after a goalless start to the season and Koné’s sending-off against Napoli. On Friday evening, the Grigiorossi welcome the struggling newcomers for the second matchday of Serie A, with both teams now facing each other under completely different circumstances after their 1-1 draw in Serie B in May. Personnel concerns on both sides could shape the game: Cremonese will be without Johnsen and Saro, while Sassuolo’s new veteran Matić could already be available, but Thorstvedt will still be out until September.
- Venue: Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona
- Date and time: August 29, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 2)
Cremonese form & record check
Cremonese made an impressive statement with a furious start to the season. The surprise 2-1 win at AC Milan was much more than just a lucky goal. The Lombards showed tactical discipline, with Baschirotto giving them an early lead before Bonazzoli sealed the deal with his spectacular overhead kick in the 61st minute. Davide Nicola set his team up perfectly: despite 24 shots from Milan, Cremonese remained defensively solid and allowed few really dangerous situations. This defensive compactness could be an important building block for the season’s goal of staying up. However, the start contrasts with the early Coppa Italia exit against Palermo, where they lost 4-5 on penalties after a goalless draw. The team’s current form is respectable, with three wins and two draws, and the unbeaten streak since the successful promotion playoffs against Spezia is particularly noteworthy. The recent signing of Martín Payero from Udinese could provide new offensive impetus.
Coach Davide Nicola is likely to field Cremonese in their usual 3-5-2 formation. With Audero in goal, a back three of Terracciano, Baschirotto, and Bianchetti is expected, while Zerbin and Pezzella could occupy the wings. Collocolo, Grassi, and Vandeputte are expected to start in central midfield, with the latter acting as the creative force. Up front, Okereke and Bonazzoli could lead the attack after Bonazzoli recently caused a stir with his spectacular overhead kick against Milan. The personnel situation remains problematic: Dennis Johnsen is still out with injury, which limits the options on the wings. Goalkeeper Gianluca Saro will also be unavailable after tearing his cruciate ligament.
Sassuolo Form & Record Check
Sassuolo has had an unfortunate start to the new Serie A season, sitting 17th in the table with no points and no goals scored. The 0-2 defeat to Napoli was symptomatic of the Neroverdi’s current problems: after McTominay’s early goal in the 17th minute, Koné’s red card in the 79th minute finally put an end to any hopes of a comeback. There is a clear pattern in the last five games: Sassuolo regularly concedes goals while being harmless in attack, but has mostly remained below 1.5 goals in each half. At least they managed a 1-0 win against Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia, which should give them some confidence. The signing of Nemanja Matić could prove to be a golden move. The 37-year-old former Manchester United pro brings international experience and is expected to make his debut tonight. With Thorstvedt still injured and Skjellerup also unavailable, Matić’s arrival is well-timed, as his experience in defensive midfield could be the missing piece of the puzzle to stabilize the defense.
Coach Fabio Grosso is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation against Cremonese. Turati is expected to start in goal, while the back four could consist of Missori, Walukiewicz, Romagna, and Doig. The midfield will be interesting: Nemanja Matić, who was recently signed from Lyon, could make his debut straight away and play alongside Koné and Boloca. In attack, Berardi, Pinamonti, and Laurienté are the likely candidates for the three positions. Thorstvedt remains sidelined with heel problems, while Skjellerup is also out with injury. These absences could prompt Grosso to rely on his tried-and-tested starting lineup, with the new signing Matić providing additional stability in the center.
H2H Cremonese – Sassuolo Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The head-to-head record from the last five meetings is slightly in Cremonese’s favor. Cremonese have won two games, Sassuolo have won one, and there have been two draws. What is particularly striking is that both teams scored in four of the five games, suggesting that these are offensive-minded duels. The most recent meeting in May 2025 ended in a high-scoring 1-1 draw after both teams faced each other in Serie B. Interestingly, the match in August 2024 was also a real spectacle, with Cremonese winning 4-1. The statistics show a clear pattern: Cremonese scored in 80% of the matches, while Sassuolo conceded goals just as often. Both teams seem to challenge each other, as four out of five games saw at least two goals scored. One might think that defensive stability is of secondary importance in these duels.
Sassuolo has consistently produced less than 2.5 goals in its last five games and has remained completely scoreless in all of its recent second halves, which supports the tip “Both teams to score: No.” Cremonese demonstrates defensive stability with an unbeaten streak of five games. The betting tip for under 1.5 goals in the first half is justified by the fact that both teams have started slowly in 80% of their recent games. Injuries further reduce the offensive power of both sides. While the betting markets rate Cremonese as slight favorites at 2.3, the market for a draw at 3.3 offers value considering Sassuolo’s recent difficulties against the Grigiorossi’s defensive discipline. Matić’s signing could improve game control in the medium term, but is unlikely to have much immediate impact on established patterns.
