Just four days after their league clash, Cremonese and Cittadella are set to face each other again in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. The match will take place at the Stadio Giovanni Zini on Tuesday afternoon.
Match Preview
In their previous encounter, Cremonese emerged victorious with a stoppage-time goal from Franco Vazquez, securing a 2-1 win over Cittadella.
Cremonese has had a relatively good start in Serie B, currently sitting in seventh place with 16 points from four wins and four draws in 11 games.
However, their performance has been inconsistent, lacking consecutive victories this season.
In the previous round of the Coppa Italia, Cremonese defeated Crotone after an intense match that went into extra time.
They eventually won 3-1, showcasing their determination to advance in the competition.
Last season, Cremonese reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, leaving a lasting impression with victories against renowned Serie A teams AS Roma and Napoli.
Having won their last three head-to-head encounters, Cremonese enters this match with confidence, buoyed by their recent league victory over Cittadella.
On the other hand, Cittadella currently sits in 12th place in Serie B, with 13 points from three wins and four draws in 11 games.
They have been on a winless streak, most recently suffering defeats against Cremonese and Pisa. Their last victory was nearly a month ago when they defeated Lecco 2-1 at home.
Cittadella’s journey in the Coppa Italia started in the round of 64, where they surprised Italian football fans with a 2-1 victory over Serie A side Empoli, despite missing a penalty in injury time.
However, last season, they were eliminated in the same stage by Torino in a 4-0 defeat.
Having lost their previous three encounters against Cremonese, Cittadella faces an uphill battle.
They will need to exceed expectations if they aim to improve their Coppa Italia performance from last season.
Team News:
Cremonese is expected to field a fully fit squad for the round of 32 match. It is likely that manager Giovanni Stroppa will field a similar starting XI.
Franco Vazquez, the scorer of the winning goal in the league match against Cittadella, has a chance to start on Tuesday.
The team is anticipated to adopt a 3-5-2 formation, with Vazquez or David Okereke partnering Massimo Coda up front.
Cittadella, on the other hand, faces a major injury concern with right-back Alessandro Salvi.
If Salvi is not fit to play, Federico Giraudo is expected to take his place in the starting XI.
The rest of the lineup is likely to remain unchanged, with Alessio Vita, Simone Branca, and Francesco Amatucci forming the midfield base, while Andrea Magrassi and Filippo Pittarello strive to end their goal drought up front.
Possible Starting Lineups:
Cremonese:
- Sarr;
- Antov, Ravanelli, Bianchetti, Ghiglione, Zanimacchia;
- Pickel, Castagnetti, Buonaiuto;
- Coda, Okereke
Cittadella:
- Kastrati;
- Giraudo, Pavan, Angeli, Carissoni;
- Vita, Branca, Amatucci, Cassano;
- Magrassi, Pittarello
Prediction:
While it is unusual for teams to face each other consecutively in different competitions, the dynamics of cup matches often introduce unpredictability.
Cremonese’s better form and Cittadella’s lack of confidence give the former an edge, although we anticipate a closely contested match decided by a single goal.
- We predict a 1-0 victory for Cremonese over Cittadella.
