Cremonese vs Roma

Serie A whipping boys Cremonese welcome top-four hopefuls Roma to the Stadio Giovanni Zini for a high-stakes midweek contest.

Despite equalling the longest-ever winning run in Serie A history with a 2-2 draw at Torino last time out (30), Cremonese could still pull off a late comeback and extend their top-flight status. They start this round ten points adrift of safety after going winless in the first 23 rounds (D9, L14) as the only side in Serie A yet to hit double digits. Indeed, Davide Ballardini’s men have picked up just two points in eight top-flight matches since the calendar year flipped to 2023 (D2, L6), with only Valencia and TSG Hoffenheim amassing fewer in Europe’s top-five leagues in that span. Conceding first would likely pave the way for another upset, considering the hosts have lost all seven home games after falling behind in Serie A this season.

Meanwhile, Roma overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to RB Salzburg with a 2-0 home win in the return fixture to book their tickets for the Europa League round of 16 last time out. Back to Serie A, where they boast a two-point lead on fifth-placed Lazio after going unbeaten in three consecutive league games (W2, D1), ‘I Giallorossi’ will hope to galvanize their away form against sub-par rivals. Jose Mourinho’s men have claimed just one win on their last five Serie A travels (D3, L1) and can take anything for granted despite securing a 1-0 home win in the reverse fixture. Interestingly, that triumph forms part of Roma’s 11 Serie A victories by an identical 1-0 scoreline since the start of last season, with only two sides from Europe’s five big leagues managing more in that period.