Key Facts
- Cremonese is in a slump: six losses in their last seven league games and winless for about three months, just one point above the relegation zone (behind Fiorentina).
- Key absences for Cremonese: Baschirotto (muscle injury) and Moumbagna (muscle fatigue) are both out—leaving the team without its key defensive player and central striker.
- Cremonese has not scored a goal in the first half in their last five league games and has conceded at least one goal in four of those matches; early Fiorentina dominance is likely.
- Head-to-head record: Fiorentina is in better form with four wins and one draw in their last five meetings; four of those games ended with under 2.5 goals.
- Fiorentina will be without Moise Kean (shin contusion); Gudmundsson and Ndour step into the spotlight, both in good form following the Conference League victory.
- Both teams show defensive weaknesses, and 80% of Cremonese’s recent matches have ended with more than 1.5 goals—a market for Over 2.5 goals remains plausible given the hosts’ vulnerability.
Cremonese has been waiting for a league win for about three months, and six losses in their last seven games have made the situation increasingly serious for coach Davide Nicola. Now the club hosts Fiorentina at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in a direct relegation battle, with just one point separating the two teams in the Serie A table. Despite inconsistent home form, Fiorentina is the clear favorite, partly because the head-to-head record has recently favored the Viola. A win for the visitors would significantly widen the gap, while Cremonese desperately needs points to ease the pressure on Nicola and the team.
- Venue: Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona
- Date and time: March 16, 2026, 8:45 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 29)
A Fiorentina win is considered the market’s strongest favorite, driven by Cremonese’s ongoing slump and the absences of Baschirotto and Moumbagna, which weaken both defensive and offensive balance. Moise Kean’s uncertain return to Fiorentina complicates the visitors’ attacking threat and increases the likelihood of a scoreless draw.
Cremonese Form & Record Check
Last weekend’s 1-2 loss in Lecce summed up Cremonese’s current situation well: they were already down 0-2 at halftime, managed to pull one back to 1-2, but couldn’t get any closer. In their last five Serie A matches, Cremonese have picked up just one point, a scoreless draw at home against Genoa. In none of these matches did they score in the first half, and in four of the five games, they conceded at least one goal. On top of that, defender Baschirotto (muscle injury) and forward Moumbagna (muscle fatigue) are out, leaving Bonazzoli and Djuric as the main options up front. The tense atmosphere surrounding Nicola’s position is unlikely to help the team on the field.
Nicola is likely to stick with his usual 4-4-2 formation. Up front, Bonazzoli and Djuric are expected to start as the striking duo. Two notable absences: Baschirotto (muscle issues) and Moumbagna (muscle fatigue, no confirmed return date) are both unavailable. Bianchetti is expected to step in at defense to replace the injured Baschirotto, ensuring the defensive setup remains intact. In midfield, Zerbin and Vandeputte are expected to provide width on the wings and support both the fullbacks and the two strikers during transitions and wing attacks. The system suggests a compact midfield with a focus on wing play to set up Bonazzoli and Djuric.
Fiorentina Form & Record Check
Fiorentina showed resilience during the week, overturning a first-round Conference League deficit with a 2-1 home win. This demonstrates mental strength and stability in crucial moments. Their league form, however, has been mixed: a 3-0 debacle at Udinese and a scoreless home draw against Parma have dampened expectations, with just one Serie A win in the last five weeks speaking for itself. Moise Kean’s shin contusion has not yet fully healed, bringing Gudmundsson, Ndour, and Roberto Piccoli to the forefront as likely attacking options. Added to this is the usual rotation following a European match, which is likely to noticeably affect the freshness of the starting lineup and the attacking potency.
Vanoli is likely to stick with his usual 4-1-4-1 formation, with de Gea in goal and Mandragora as the defensive midfielder in front of him. Piccoli is expected to lead the attack, with Gudmundsson playing as his direct support. Moise Kean is out with a shin contusion; a return date has not yet been confirmed. Lamptey and Solomon are also unavailable, which means that Dodô and the current midfield rotation are likely to remain unchanged.
Cremonese – Fiorentina Head-to-Head & Stats
Recent head-to-head results clearly favor Fiorentina: four wins and one draw in the last five meetings, including a 1-0 victory at the Artemio Franchi in January. These matches have mostly been low-scoring, with four of the last five ending with under 2.5 goals. Fiorentina has scored in each of the last three meetings, while Cremonese, on the other hand, has regularly conceded goals. The historical record thus points to a Fiorentina victory in what is likely to be another close match.
