Preview: Cremonese vs Palermo - prediction, team news, lineups

Before making their top-flight return next weekend, Cremonese will welcome Palermo to Stadio Zini for a first-round Coppa Italia clash on Saturday.

The Grigiorossi were promoted through the Serie B playoffs but they still switched coach; so, Davide Nicola's first competitive game comes against ambitious opponents from Sicily.

Match preview

One year after losing the playoff final to Venezia, Cremonese booked their ticket back to Serie A at the second attempt, overcoming Spezia in early June.

With a precious place among Italy's elite at stake, the pair - relegated together in 2023 and separated by just five points in the final Serie B standings - put on an enthralling show.

After they could not be split in a goalless first leg, the clubs clashed for a fourth and final time at Stadio Picco, where Spezia only needed a draw thanks to their higher league finish.

Quelling the home crowd, Cremonese roared into a three-goal lead, before conceding two late goals then made for a nervy finish - nonetheless, the Lombardy club ultimately ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate.

Somewhat surprisingly, head coach Giovanni Stroppa then departed, and Serie A survival specialist Davide Nicola has been hired to keep the Grigiorossi afloat.

Having followed up several rescue acts by ensuring Cagliari's safety last season, Nicola has made some smart signings, and his squad recently completed pre-season with a 0-0 draw against Reggiana.

While Cremonese made the semi-finals in 2023 - knocking out Roma on the way - but have never lifted the Coppa Italia, Palermo have come even closer, losing three finals to date.

The Sicilian side come into this contest having won their most recent league game at the Zini one year ago, but Cremo came out on top in March, winning 3-2 at Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Famous for their distinctive pink and black kit, the Rosanero competed in Europe as recently as 2011, but financial woes led to their demise before a phoenix club was formed down in the depths of Serie D.

Having climbed back up the calcio pyramid, Palermo were acquired by City Football Group in 2022, going on to secure three top-half finishes in Serie B.

After missing out on promotion in the playoff preliminary round last term, Alessio Dionisi was replaced by new boss Filippo Inzaghi, who left Pisa despite leading the Tuscan side back to Serie A.

Following six wins out of six to start pre-season, Inzaghi's men were well beaten by sister club Manchester City last weekend, and they now start their competitive schedule by heading to Lombardy.

Cremonese pre-season form: L W D

Palermo pre-season form: W W W W W L

Team News

As well as changing coach, Cremonese have freshened up their promotion-winning squad with new recruits, and several could feature on Saturday.

Giuseppe Pezzella, Alberto Grassi, goalkeeper Marco Silvestri and former Lecce captain Federico Baschirotto are all in contention, while AC Milan loanees Warren Bondo and Filippo Terracciano may also play.

It remains to be seen how strong Davide Nicola's starting XI will be, though, as next week's league meeting with Milan is his priority.

Palermo will soon face Reggiana on Serie B's opening matchday, so they may also field some fringe players in the cup.

Boasting plenty of recent top-flight experience, Mattia Bani, ex-Empoli captain Emmanuel Gyasi and former Cagliari wing-back Tommaso Augello are among some ambitious signings who could appear at Stadio Zini.

Top scorer in Italy's second tier two years ago, Joel Pohjanpalo joined from Venezia in January, and he is set to lead the Rosanero's attack.

Cremonese possible starting lineup: Silvestri; Barbieri, Baschirotto, Ceccherini; Terracciano, Grassi, Castagnetti, Pezzella; Vazquez, Vandeputte; De Luca

Palermo possible starting lineup: Bardi; Diakite, Bani, Magnani; Gyasi, Ranocchia, Palumbo, Augello; Segre, Brunori; Pohjanpalo

We say: Cremonese 1-2 Palermo

Only separated by nine points in Serie B last season, these sides should be well-matched, with Palermo's recruitment particularly eye-catching this summer.

While the Sicilian side face a more modest league opener next week, Cremo will already have one eye on Milan and could make an early exit from the cup.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.