Cremonese will host Juventus at the Stadio Giovanni Zini on Saturday, as the Bianconeri begin a new era under newly appointed manager Luciano Spalletti.
The veteran coach has signed a deal until the end of the season which includes an automatic extension clause contingent on Champions League qualification.
Spalletti replaces Igor Tudor, who was dismissed following an eight-match winless streak. He arrives with an impressive CV, having won Serie A with Napoli in 2023.
Cremonese vs Juventus – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 1st November.
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
- Venue: Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona.
Cremonese team news
Cremonese come into this match with a relatively clean bill of health following a dominant 2-0 victory over Genoa on Wednesday.
Federico Bonazzoli has been in exceptional form, scoring twice against Genoa and now boasts four goals in six league appearances this season. The Italian striker’s partnership with former Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy has flourished, with Vardy already opening his Serie A account with a well-taken goal against Atalanta. However, Cremonese might be without several key players due to injury concerns, including Giuseppe Pezzella, Alberto Grassi, Michele Collocolo, and Faris Moumbagna, who are all doubts for the game on Saturday.
Manager Davide Nicola will likely shuffle his tactical setup in an attempt to capitalise on home advantage, with Bonazzoli and Vardy expected to spearhead the attacking threat. The partnership between the two forwards has shown promise despite their contrasting styles, with Bonazzoli’s clinical finishing complementing Vardy’s physical presence and movement off the ball.
Juventus team news
Juventus face considerable injury concerns ahead of the Cremonese clash. Khephren Thuram suffered a calf injury during training and is unavailable, whilst South American defensive duo Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal remain sidelined, alongside long-term absentee Arkadiusz Milik. The unavailability of these key players has forced Juventus to adapt their tactical approach, with Weston McKennie expected to keep his place in midfield alongside Manuel Locatelli.
Form
Cremonese
Cremonese’s campaign has been characterised by inconsistency, with the newly promoted side collecting three wins and five draws from their opening nine matches. However, their midweek win over Genoa represents a significant turning point, as Bonazzoli’s commanding display, which included a bicycle kick opener in the fourth minute and a second-half header, showcased the attacking potential at manager Davide Nicola’s disposal. After the victory, Cremonese is sitting in 8th place in the table.
Juventus
Juventus received a significant boost on Wednesday evening, securing a commanding 3-1 victory over Udinese to end their winless run. Dusan Vlahovic converted a penalty in the fifth minute before Federico Gatti restored Juventus’s lead with a powerful header following the restart. Kenan Yildiz sealed the victory with a late penalty conversion, rewarding a professional performance under interim coach Massimo Brambilla.
The Bianconeri’s campaign has been fragmented and troubling until their midweek resurgence. The Old Lady endured an eight-match winless streak in all competitions, which included three consecutive defeats and sparked the dismissal of Tudor. Their 2-0 defeat to Como last month in particular highlighted their defensive frailties and attacking malaise.
Wednesday’s offers genuine encouragement, though, with Vlahovic finally ending his seven-game scoring drought, and the team demonstrating renewed intensity and clinical finishing from set-pieces.
Predicted lineups
Cremonese: Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Bondo; Barbieri, Payero, Vandeputte, Mussolini; Bonazzoli, Vardy
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Cambiaso; Locatelli, McKennie, Koopmeiners; Conceição, Vlahovic, Yildiz
How to watch Cremonese vs Juventus?
In the UK, the match can be watched live on DAZN and Sky Sports Italia.
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