Serie A

Cremonese vs. Como, survival hopes vs. UCL dreams

It’s a must-win for both sides to reach their aims.

At the Zini, both sides know they must win and hope for results elsewhere to go their way. Cremonese’s survival chances depend on results in other matches, while Como, already guaranteed Europa League football, still have a slim chance of reaching the Champions League if they win and either Milan or Roma lose. Otherwise, qualification will come down to the head-to-head records.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official head-to-head record in Cremona stands at 29 meetings: 17 Grigiorossi wins (the most recent 2-1, Serie B 2023/24), 7 draws (the most recent 2-2, Lega Pro Prima Divisione 2010/11) and 5 Como victories (the most recent 0-1, Lega Pro Prima Divisione 2013/14).

In Serie A, the fixture between the two sides at the Zini has not been played since 31 March 1985 (Cremonese 2-0 Como, goals from Finardi from the spot and Juary).

Historically, Cremonese vs Como has twice been a match of decisive verdicts. In 1982/83, in Serie B, the two sides finished level in third place alongside Catania, leading to a three-way playoff to determine the third side promoted to Serie A behind Milan and Lazio. The clash between the two Lombard clubs ended 0-0 in Rome, and it was Catania who went up, beating Como 1-0. More recently, on 6 May 2022, again in Serie B, Cremonese won 1-2 at the Sinigaglia on the final matchday to leapfrog Monza — beaten 0-1 in Perugia — and celebrate direct promotion to Serie A, from which they had been absent since the 1995/96 season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cremonese are fighting for survival: it has not been since the 1993/94–1995/96 period that the Grigiorossi have remained in Serie A for at least two consecutive seasons. Giampaolo's side must necessarily overtake Lecce to be safe: level on points, a playoff on neutral ground would be required, even though Cremonese hold the head-to-head advantage (2-0 at home, 2-1 to Lecce at the Via del Mare).

Should both Cremonese and Lecce win, the Grigiorossi would finish third from bottom on 37 points. To find a relegated side with a higher points total in Serie A, you would have to go back to 2018/19, when Empoli went down on 38 points — level with Genoa, who stayed up by virtue of a superior head-to-head record.

Cremonese are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest percentage of time spent behind on the scoreboard (35.04%).

Cremonese are the 2025/26 Serie A side that concedes the most shots on target per match (5).

Cremonese are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest shots-on-target percentage conceded (36.4%).

Como are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest aerial duel-winning percentage (57.2%).

Como are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest ball possession percentage (60.5%).

Como are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the most clean sheets (19).

Como are the 2025/26 Serie A side that makes the most substitutions (183, level with Bologna.

A record-breaking season for Como: 19 Serie A wins, a new all-time club record in the top flight (the previous record was 18, set in 1950/51).

COACHES and PLAYERS

This is the 3rd official meeting between Marco Giampaolo and Cesc Fàbregas, following their two encounters in the 2025/26 Serie A season in the Lecce vs Como double header — both won by the Lariani.

Only Ylber Ramadani (188) makes more interceptions than Filippo Terracciano (185) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Emil Audero leads in several categories in the 2025/26 Serie A season: 1st for total saves (123), 1st for completed long passes (355) and 1st for saves from shots outside the penalty area (47).

The two goalkeepers who complete the most forward passes in the defensive half in the 2025/26 Serie A season go head-to-head: Jean Butez (796) and Emil Audero (610).

No player attempts more shots on target than Nico Paz (46) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Jean Butez, with 37 appearances out of 37 and 3,330 minutes on the pitch, is one of 6 players to have played every available minute in the 2025/26 Serie A season — alongside Falcone (Lecce), De Gea (Fiorentina), Svilar (Roma), Caprile (Cagliari) and Carnesecchi (Atalanta).

Anastasios Douvikas is one of 4 outfield players to have made 37 appearances out of 37 — alongside Adopo (Cagliari), Laurienté (Sassuolo) and Colombo (Genoa).

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none

Cautioned: Vardy, Luperto, Bonazzoli, Grassi (Cremonese); Da Cunha, Addai (Como)

REFEREE

MARESCA (CECCONI – FONTEMURATO) IV: CALZAVARA, VAR: GARIGLIO, AVAR: CAMPLONE

(Photo Getty Images)