Cremonese vs Napoli Prediction - A Test of the Away Team's Mettle

Create Mind•December 28, 2025 08:19

Napoli are looking to defend their top-four spot in Serie A as they visit Cremonese, a team desperate for points to improve their mid-table position.

The next round of Serie A will see Cremonese clash with Napoli at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 9:00 PM on December 28, 2025. While Napoli are fiercely fighting for a Champions League spot, Cremonese are aiming to maintain stability in the middle of the league table.

The teams' positions in the league table and their ambitions.

Currently, Napoli are in 4th place with 31 points after 15 matches. The gap between the top 4 teams is very narrow, so every match is like a final for the Southern Italian team. On the other side, Cremonese are in 12th place with 21 points after 16 rounds. The home team is still looking for stability to break into the top half of the table.

Recent form

Napoli's form in their last five matches has been inconsistent, with three wins and two losses. The visitors possess a strong attack, having scored 22 goals (an average of 1.5 goals per game), but their defense has also conceded 13 goals. Notably, Napoli have a good away record with four wins this season.

Cremonese enter this match in less than impressive form, having won 2, drawn 1, and lost 2 of their last 5 games. The home team's goal difference is balanced, with 18 goals scored and 18 goals conceded after 16 matches.

Head-to-head history: Napoli holds a clear advantage.

Looking at the head-to-head history, Napoli has a clear advantage. In the last three encounters since October 2022, Napoli has won two matches with significant margins (3-0 and 4-1) and drawn one 2-2. This will undoubtedly give the visiting team a great deal of confidence before traveling to Stadio Giovanni Zini.

Team situation: A personnel dilemma for both coaches.

Both teams are facing significant personnel losses, which could directly impact their tactical formations and the outcome of the match.

Cremonese are missing a key defender.

  • F. Ceccherini:Absent due to a red card.
  • M. Collocolo:Absent due to a groin injury.
  • M. Bianchetti:His availability for the match is still uncertain due to a head injury.

Napoli's long injury list

  • F. Anguissa:Absent due to a thigh injury.
  • K. De Bruyne:Absent due to a thigh injury.
  • B. Gilmour:Absent due to a groin injury.
  • R. Lukaku, A. Meret, M. Olivera:His availability for the match is currently uncertain due to various injuries.

Expert opinions and predictions

Despite playing away and missing several key players, Napoli are still considered the favorites due to their superior squad quality and head-to-head record. The predicted odds for a Napoli win are 45%, while the probability of a draw is also 45%. There's only a 10% chance for the home team, Cremonese, to pull off an upset.

In terms of goals, experts predict this could be a low-scoring match, with each team expected to score under 2.5 goals. Napoli will likely opt for a cautious approach while still controlling possession, looking for gaps in Cremonese's defense, which is missing key player Ceccherini.

Predicted result:Napoli win or draw.

Team lineup updated at 20:23 on December 28, 2025

Official lineup

Cremonese

Diagram: 3-5-2

CoachDavide Nicola

Starting lineup:

  • 1. Emil Audero (G)
  • 24. Filippo Terracciano (D)
  • 6. Federico Baschirotto (D)
  • 15. Matteo Bianchetti (D)
  • 4. Tommaso Barbieri (M)
  • 33. Alberto Grassi (M)
  • 32. Martín Payero (M)
  • 7. Alessio Zerbin (M)
  • 3. Giuseppe Pezzella (M)
  • 10. Jamie Vardy (F)
  • 99. Antonio Sanabria (F)

Substitutes:

  • 16. Marco Silvestri
  • 69. Lapo Nava
  • 55. Francesco Folino
  • 30. Mikayil Faye
  • 19. Jeremy Sarmiento
  • 27. Jari Vandeputte
  • 48. Dachi Lordkipanidze
  • 8. Mattia Valoti
  • 22. Romano Floriani Mussolini
  • 38. Warren Bondo
  • 20. Franco Vázquez
  • 14. Faris Moumbagna
  • 11. Dennis Johnson
  • 90. Federico Bonazzoli

Napoli

Diagram: 3-4-2-1

CoachAntonio Conte

Starting lineup:

  • 32. Vanja Milinković-Savić (G)
  • 22. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (D)
  • 13. Amir Rrahmani (D)
  • 5. Juan Jesus (D)
  • 21. Matteo Politano (M)
  • 68. Stanislav Lobotka (M)
  • 8. Scott McTominay (M)
  • 37. Leonardo Spinazzola (M)
  • 7. David Neres (F)
  • 20. Eljif Elmas (F)
  • 19. Rasmus Højlund (F)

Substitutes:

  • 25. Mathias Ferrante
  • 14. Nikita Contini
  • 35. Luca Marianucci
  • 4. Alessandro Buongiorno
  • 3. Miguel Gutiérrez
  • 30. Pasquale Mazzocchi
  • 26. Antonio Vergara
  • 70. Noa Lang
  • 27. Lorenzo Lucca
  • 69. Giuseppe Ambrosino

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