Cremonese vs. Genoa, relegation battle

Three points to escape the relegation zone. Cremonese and Genoa, level on 23 points, face off at the Zini in a battle for survival. The hosts haven’t won since December 7, collecting just three points in their last ten games and coming off three consecutive losses to Sassuolo, Inter, and Atalanta. Genoa, meanwhile, had gone five games unbeaten before back-to-back 3-2 losses to Lazio and Napoli. For both sides, the message is clear: a win provides breathing room, while a loss puts them back in danger.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been 11 official meetings in Cremona between the two sides: Cremonese have won four (most recently 2–1 in Serie B 1996/97), there have been four draws (most recently 1–1 in Serie B 1998/99) and Genoa have won three (most recently 1–0 in Serie A 1989/90).

This will be the first official meeting between the teams in the 21st century: the last match in Cremona dates back to 11 April 1999, a 1–1 draw in Serie B, with Ghirardello scoring in the 1st minute for the hosts and Francioso equalising in the 33rd for Genoa.

Cremonese’s last win in this fixture came on 14 September 1996 in Serie B: a 2–1 victory, with goals from Maspero and Mirabelli for Cremonese, while Masolini scored a penalty for Genoa.

The teams have not met in Serie A since 1994/95: Cremonese won 4–1 at home on 23 April 1995, with braces from Chiesa (including a penalty) and Tentoni; Genoa’s consolation goal was scored by Marcolin from the penalty spot.

Genoa have not won in Cremona since 10 September 1989: their last success was a 1–0 win in Serie A, decided by a penalty from Aguilera.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cremonese have been without a league win since 7 December (a 2–0 home win over Lecce at the Zini). In the 10 matchdays since, they have recorded three draws and seven defeats.

Cremonese have gone 241 minutes without scoring at home: their last goal at the Zini was scored by Vardy in the 29th minute of Cremonese–Cagliari 2–2 on 8 January.

Cremonese are the Serie A 2025/26 team that have conceded the most goals in the opening 15 minutes (7).

Cremonese are among the teams with the fewest points won in the second half of the season (1), level with Bologna.

Genoa are among the teams awarded the most penalties in Serie A 2025/26 (6), level with Pisa, Como and Milan.

Genoa are coming off three straight matches ending 3–2: a win over Bologna at Marassi, followed by defeats away to Lazio in Rome and at the Ferraris against Napoli.

COACHES and PLAYERS

It will be the third official meeting between Davide Nicola and Daniele De Rossi: the Cremonese coach is unbeaten, with one win and one draw. The win came on the final matchday of Serie A 2023/24 — Empoli–Roma 2–1 on 26 May 2024 — a result that secured mathematical safety for Empoli thanks to Niang’s stoppage-time winner, after Cancellieri’s opener and Aouar’s equaliser.

Davide Nicola is the ex of the day: as a player, he wore the Genoa shirt from 1995/96 to 2001/02 (with a spell at Pescara in 1998/99), making 183 official appearances and scoring four goals. In 1995/96, he won the Anglo-Italian Cup with Genoa, playing the first 50 minutes of the Wembley final — a 5–2 win over Port Vale — before being replaced by Van’t Schip. He later coached Genoa from January to August 2020, recording eight wins, five draws and nine defeats across 22 official matches in charge.

Morten Thorsby scored against Atalanta: it was the Norwegian midfielder’s third league goal of the season and his first for Cremonese. The goal ended a 514-minute scoring drought for Nicola’s side.

Lorenzo Colombo scored against Napoli: it was the Italian striker’s sixth league goal of the season, equalling his personal best for goals in a single campaign (set in 2024/25 with Empoli in Serie A and in 2021/22 with SPAL in Serie B).

Ruslan Malinovskyi scored against Napoli: it was the Ukrainian midfielder’s fifth Serie A goal of the season. He had not scored five or more goals in a single league campaign since 2021/22 (when he scored six for Atalanta).

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: none 

Cautioned: Vardy, Bondo (Cremonese); Marcandalli, Masini (Genoa)

REFEREE

SOZZA (VECCHI – MASTRODONATO) IV: RAPUANO, VAR: MAZZOLENI, AVAR: GARIGLIO

UPCOMING MATCHES

Roma-Cremonese (Sunday February 22, 20.45 CET)

Genoa-Torino (Sunday February 22, 12.30 CET)

(Photo Getty Images)