CREMONESE – LAZIO | Sunday 3pm
The league table is not misleading: Cremonese only have two points but they are on the up and the two consecutive draws against Sassuolo (0-0) and Atalanta (1-1) represent the “just reward” for a team that had sown a lot in the first four days but without reaping anything. Massimiliano Alvini’s men have never been demerits despite facing qualitatively superior opponents – the only defeat by two goals was against Inter at the San Siro – and it was enough for them to improve in the non-possession phase (only one goal conceded against the Emilian and Bergamo teams) to start obtaining the first positive results.
The calendar, meanwhile, does not allow to lower the engine revs and Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio arrives in Lombardy, fresh from the terrifying performance in Denmark against Midtjylland, valid for the second day of the Europa League group stage. A match that ended with the humiliating result of 5-1 that brought out all the flaws of the biancoceleste formation, which continues to be inconstant especially when playing away from the Olimpico: so far no away success for the Capitolini. The Tuscan coach at the end of the match even spoke of a ‘germ’ in the locker room, saying he was even ready to resign if the main problem was him. Lazio therefore called upon to immediately redeem the Danish ‘wreck’ and restart from last Sunday’s 2-0 win against Verona. The last trip of the biancocelesti to the ‘Zini’ was in 1996 and in that case the ‘grigiorossi’ won. Statistically speaking, Lazio are the team with whom the Lombardi have collected the most points in the top flight.
Cremonese-Lazio: latest line-up news
Immobile exults under the curve
There’s no sign of the infirmary emptying out at Cremonese. Against Lazio, Alvini will have to do without Bianchetti, Ndiaye, Ghiglione and Carnesecchi. A return to the 3-4-1-2 is not to be ruled out, with Zanimacchia trequartista behind the now consolidated pair formed by Dessers and Okereke. In the midfield Meité and Pickel will play, only bench for the former Escalante. The only ballot is in defence, where Hendry will challenge Aiwu.
Sarri instead continues with the turnover after yet another close engagement. There is no Lazzari, injured: in his place, on the right, Hysaj will be adapted, with Marusic on the opposite lane. In the midfield, Milinkovic-Savic and Cataldi are sure to start, while Luis Alberto is in a duel with Vecino. In attack Pedro will take over from the injured Zaccagni.
The prediction
A match that Lazio must win to erase the defeat in Denmark. Cremonese, however, are a ‘little one’ to be taken with caution, they face every opponent with an open face and could create some headaches for Sarri’s team. There should be no shortage of goals, which in all likelihood will be at least two in total. As two teams who score mainly in the second half, we expect a more eventful second half.
Cremonese-Lazio
likely line-ups
- CREMONESE (3-4-1-2): Radu; Aiwu, Chiriches, Lochoshvili; Sernicola, Meité, Pickel, Valeri; Zanimacchia; Dessers, Okereke.
- LAZIO (4-3-3): Provedel; Hysaj, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Vecino; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Pedro.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
