Pisa has been waiting for a home win in Serie A since 1991, and the current season is no better: after ten matchdays, the Nerazzurri are in 17th place with only six points and have not scored a single goal in five home games. On Friday evening, they welcome a much more stable Cremonese side to the Arena Garibaldi, who are in tenth place in the table with 14 points under Davide Nicola. The visitors are in particularly good form away from home, picking up eight of their 15 points on the road, even if their recent defeat to Juventus ended that run.
Interestingly, the head-to-head record favors the struggling hosts: Pisa has won three of the last four meetings, most recently 2-1 at the end of May when both teams were still playing in Serie B. It is striking that in four of the five previous games, the first half was low-scoring and the games only swung in favor of the Tuscan side after the break.
The personnel situation further exacerbates Pisa’s offensive problems: Calvin Stengs is out until Christmas after groin surgery, and Tomás Esteves is also injured. Alberto Gilardino could call on Raúl Albiol to return to the back three. Cremonese will be without Alberto Grassi, Faris Moumbagna, and Michele Collocolo, while Jamie Vardy is expected to start alongside Federico Bonazzoli again after his recent goal.
Given Pisa’s poor home form and Cremonese’s solid away form, everything points to a close, low-scoring game. A 1-1 draw or a narrow away win seems likely, although the historical record and the typical pattern of play in this fixture suggest late twists.
- Venue: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani, Pisa
- Date and time: November 7, 2025, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 11)
Under 2.5 goals appears to be the most solid tip for this match. The statistics speak for themselves: Pisa had less than 1.5 goals after the break in 80 percent of their last five games, while Cremonese finished the first half with less than 1.5 goals in 80 percent of their last five games. Only two of Pisa’s ten league games went over 2.5 goals. The numerous absences on both sides, especially Stengs’ long-term injury at Pisa and the absence of Moumbagna, Zerbin, and Collocolo at Cremonese, further weaken the offensive departments. The odds of around 1.8 reflect these defensive expectations.
Both teams to score: No could also pay off. Pisa’s disastrous home record, with no goals scored in five Serie A home games, is the main reason for this tip. Pisa is holding its own defensively, as the goalless draw against Lazio showed, and Cremonese scores regularly but is more cautious away from home. If Pisa fails to score at home again or Cremonese fails to break through the compact defense, this tip will pay off.
The double chance of a draw or Cremonese offers a sensible hedge. Pisa has been waiting for a Serie A home win since 1991; six of the ten season games ended in a draw, four of the last five in a draw. The bookmakers give Pisa a slight favorite role with odds of around 2.3, but the statistical picture and the hosts’ glaring offensive problems suggest that this assessment is too optimistic. Cremonese is stable away from home and should be able to take at least one point.
The three tips are based on clear defensive patterns and Pisa’s chronic home weakness. Under 2.5 goals and “Both teams to score: No” are the more conservative options with a solid statistical basis.
Pisa Form & Record Check
Pisa are still waiting for their first win after ten matchdays in Serie A and are in 17th place with six points. There have been four draws in the last five games, including respectable 2-2 draws against Torino and AC Milan, as well as goalless draws against Lazio and Verona. Offensive punch is the main problem: Pisa has failed to score a single goal in five home games, while the defense has been stable at times, especially in the second half.
The core problems are complex. Without Stengs and Esteves, the team lacks creative impetus and precision in front of goal; Moreo’s brace in Turin remained an exception. A psychological block is evident against direct rivals: while the team is competitive against established teams, it lacks the necessary wins against relegation rivals. Tactically, the team appears predictable, well-prepared against big teams, but uninspired when they have to make the play themselves. Their poor home form, with zero goals in five games, points to fundamental problems in build-up play and finishing.
As concrete measures, Pisa should become more variable in attack: more runs between the lines, faster transitions, and targeted set pieces could help. Personnel and system adjustments such as a second striker or a deep-lying playmaker would take the pressure off Moreo. Rotations on the wings could create space for creative players. Psychological coaching with a focus on victories against direct rivals and clear match plans would be just as important as targeted analysis of opponents’ weaknesses.
The table is tight, with only one point separating Pisa from 16th place. Just a few targeted improvements and a win against a direct competitor could ease the situation. In the medium term, the return or sensible replacement of creative players will determine whether the team stays up.
Coach Gilardino is expected to start with his usual 3-5-2 formation. The offensive department is plagued by injuries: Calvin Stengs will be out until Christmas after groin surgery, Tomás Esteves will not return until the end of November, and Mateus Lusuardi is still out.
In the back three, Raúl Albiol could start between Canestrelli and Caracciolo after his return. Marin and Aebischer are expected to be the central midfielders, while Akinsanmiro will be looking to build on his recent strong tackling statistics. Touré and Léris are expected to provide width on the wings.
Moreo and Nzola seem to be the established pairing up front. Moreo recently impressed with a brace against Torino, even though Meister had chances to start.
Cremonese form & record check
Cremonese are in solid form under coach Davide Nicola and are tenth in the table with 14 points from ten games. The team are particularly strong away from home, with eight of their 15 points coming on the road, which speaks for a balanced and travel-friendly squad. The recent defeat against Juventus ended a positive run, but does not detract from the overall stable performance this season.
In attack, Cremonese can rely on Jamie Vardy, who has already scored twice in three games and is putting his Premier League experience to good use. The partnership with Federico Bonazzoli is working increasingly well, even though the team is missing important alternatives with the absences of Faris Moumbagna, Alessio Zerbin, Alberto Grassi, Michele Collocolo, and Pezzella.
Tactically, Nicola relies on a flexible 3-5-2 system that offers defensive stability and provides offensive accents on the wings. The balance between defense and offense is right, which is reflected in the balanced goal difference. Against Pisa’s weak home offense, Cremonese should be able to take at least one point, especially since the visitors play much more freely away than at home.
Cremonese are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation. Emil Audero will be in goal, with Terracciano, Baschirotto, and Bianchetti forming the back three.
Barbieri, Payero, Bondo, Vandeputte, and Floriani Mussolini are expected to start in midfield. Federico Bonazzoli and Jamie Vardy are expected to lead the attack. Vardy, who joined from Leicester in the summer, has already scored twice in three games and brings important experience to the team.
Coach Davide Nicola will be without several players: Moumbagna is out with muscle problems, and Zerbin, Grassi, Collocolo, and Pezzella are also unavailable. Despite these absences, Cremonese has a decent away record, with eight out of a possible 15 points on the road. The final team lineup will not be confirmed until shortly before kickoff.
Pisa – Cremonese Head-to-head & Statistics
Pisa clearly dominates the head-to-head record: Pisa has won three of the last five encounters, Cremonese one, and one game ended in a draw. The most recent duels ended 2-1 for Pisa in May 2025 and 3-1 for Pisa in November 2024.
Pisa’s strength in the second half of these head-to-head matches is particularly striking. In four of the last five games, Cremonese did not win after the break, while Pisa scored in 80 percent of the encounters after the break, proving particularly effective in the final stages.
The game usually follows a clear pattern: the first half is cautious, with less than 1.5 goals scored before the break in three consecutive games. Nevertheless, four of the five matches ended with at least three goals in total, but remained below four goals. Cremonese’s only victory during this period dates back to May 2024 with a 2-1 win, while December 2023 saw a goalless draw. Pisa’s most convincing victory came in 2022, when they won 3-0.
