Still seeking a first Serie A win of the season at the midpoint of their comeback campaign, Cremonese host regional rivals Monza on Saturday.
Promoted together last spring, the teams meet at Stadio Giovanni Zini amid contrasting fortunes of late, as the hosts have lost their last three games to sit rock-bottom of the table; Monza moved nine points clear of the drop zone by stinging Inter with a late equaliser last weekend.
Match preview
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Another defeat on Monday night leaves Cremonese coach Massimiliano Alvini in serious danger of losing his job in the coming days, as his team are yet to taste success since attaining promotion to the top flight under former boss Fabio Pecchia.
The winless Grigiorossi sank to the foot of the table after being leapfrogged by fellow strugglers Hellas Verona, who dealt out a 2-0 defeat to the visitors at Stadio Bentegodi.
Even returning to Cremona for Saturday's meeting with Monza may not lift waning morale, as Alvini's men have failed to score in any of their last four home matches; netting just two Serie A goals at Stadio Giovanni Zini so far - the joint-lowest total across Europe's top 10 leagues, along with Sampdoria.
Only the sixth side since 1994 to have accrued seven points or fewer after the first 17 rounds of the season, Cremonese are currently eight adrift of safety; each of the other five clubs in the same position or worse at this stage were ultimately relegated.
Some minor consolation, perhaps, is that they have hosted Lombardy rivals Monza nine times back in Serie B and lost only once. Furthermore, the two sides have met four times in the 21st century and Cremonese have won on three occasions.
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It was Monza who came out on top in the most recent encounter - a 3-2 victory in February of last year - but these teams now face each other for the first time ever in Serie A.
The Biancorossi have certainly made the better start to life among the Italian elite, in their debut campaign at this level, and after upsetting Juventus earlier this season they have caused problems for two other members of the Calcio establishment since returning from the winter break.
Draws in their last two matches - against Fiorentina and, in dramatic style, Lombardy neighbours Inter - have helped Raffaele Palladino's side to pull further clear of the relegation zone, just one game shy of the season's halfway stage.
Set to lock horns with league victims Juve again in next week's Coppa Italia tie, Monza had trailed Inter for some 70 minutes at Stadio Brianteo last time out, but a late Denzel Dumfries own goal - forced by pressure from former Nerazzurri defender Luca Caldirola - saw the hosts snatch a 2-2 draw.
They tackle far less formidable opposition this weekend, but having taken just one win from eight away fixtures so far, surely nothing can be taken for granted.
Team News
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With regular right-back Leonardo Sernicola sidelined due to suspension following his latest booking on Monday, Cremonese may turn to Jack Hendry to deputise on that side of their defence.
Meanwhile on the left, Emanuele Valeri should start; Vlad Chiriches will be ruled out by injury again, but midfielder Soualiho Meite is now back from a ban.
Daniel Ciofani - scorer of the Grigiorossi's last Serie A goal (against Salernitana in early November) - netted twice and registered an assist in the 3-2 win over Monza when the clubs last met. He will compete with struggling striker Cyriel Dessers to start up front.
While Dessers has just two league goals since arriving from Feyenoord in the summer, Monza's Brazilian wing-back Carlos Augusto is the visitors' leading goalscorer in Serie A this season, with four.
The Biancorossi are therefore the only team to have a defender as outright top scorer, and their rotating cast of forwards will continue on Saturday, as Dany Mota, Andrea Petagna and Gianluca Caprari all compete for places.
On-loan midfielder Nicolo Rovella is set to be absent once more, but Stefano Sensi could return to the bench, while Luca Caldirola seeks promotion to the starting XI after his role in the last-gasp equaliser against Inter.
Cremonese possible starting lineup:
Carnesecchi; Hendry, Bianchetti, Ferrari; Ghiglione, Pickel, Meite, Castagnetti, Valeri; Okereke; Dessers
Monza possible starting lineup:
Di Gregorio; Caldirola, Mari, Izzo; Birindelli, Pessina, Machin, Augusto; Ciurria, Caprari; Petagna
We say: Cremonese 1-2 Monza
No side has conceded more set-piece goals than Cremonese in Serie A this season (10). On the other hand, Monza have let in the joint-fewest (two), and such details are why the latter have adapted much better to the top flight. Even if the hosts can keep things tight heading into the closing stages, a defensive lapse or two could prove costly; allowing their visitors to escape with three precious points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
