In a crucial Serie A matchup, Sassuolo is set to host Cremonese at Mapei Stadium on Sunday. Both teams are struggling, each winless in their last seven league matches, and sitting on 23 points, just above the relegation zone. This encounter marks round 22 of the Serie A season and represents a crucial opportunity for either side to break their undesirable streak.
Recent Form
Sassuolo’s recent history offers little optimism. After a promising start to November, which included a 3-0 win over Atalanta and a 3-1 victory against Fiorentina, the team has since faltered. They have lost four of their last seven matches, including three consecutive defeats against formidable opponents—Juventus, Roma, and Napoli. Their scoring woes are stark; Sassuolo has failed to score in four of their last six league games.
Cremonese, on the other hand, has had even greater challenges offensively. Davide Nicola’s squad has found the net in only one of their last seven fixtures, severely limiting their scoring opportunities. Their inability to score has been highlighted by draws against Lazio and Hellas Verona and defeats to Torino, Napoli, Fiorentina, and Juventus, culminating in a 5-0 loss to the latter.
Head-to-Head History
- August 2022: Cremonese 3-2 Sassuolo
- March 2023: Sassuolo 3-2 Cremonese
Historically, matches between Sassuolo and Cremonese have been quite eventful. The last two meetings produced a total of ten goals. However, given the current struggles of both teams, fans are left wondering if this encounter will continue the trend or result in a low-scoring affair.
Team News
Sassuolo is facing a multitude of injury concerns. Key players including Domenico Berardi, Fali Cande, Cristian Volpato, Edoardo Pieragnolo, Daniel Boloca, and Kristian Thorstvedt are expected to miss the match. Andrea Pinamonti, who has contributed four goals and two assists, will be relied upon to lead the attack despite all of his goals being scored away from home.
In contrast, Cremonese has fewer injury worries, with Jeremy Sarmiento under evaluation. However, Antonio Sanabria and Martin Payero are likely to be absent. Federico Bonazzoli and Jamie Vardy will serve as primary threats, with each looking to elevate their team’s offensive output.
Predicted Lineups
Sassuolo Possible Starting XI
- Muric
- Walukiewicz
- Izdes
- Muharemovic
- Doig
- Lipani
- Matic
- Vranckx
- Fadera
- Pinamonti
- Lauriente
Cremonese Possible Starting XI
- Audero
- Ceccherini
- Baschirotto
- Bianchetti
- Barbieri
- Bondo
- Grassi
- Vandeputte
- Terracciano
- Bonazzoli
- Vardy
Match Prediction
Given the current form of both teams, a low-scoring match appears likely. Despite the historical tendency for high-scoring encounters, the offensive struggles of Sassuolo and Cremonese might lead to a stalemate. A scoreline of 0-0 seems plausible as both sides seek to secure at least a point in this critical clash.
