Udinese vs Cremonese: Crucial survival clash

One point behind Lecce with six still up for grabs. Cremonese travel to Udinese and need points if they’re to draw level with or overtake Lecce, who are currently one point clear of the drop zone and take on Sassuolo this weekend. The Grigiorossi need a result if they’re to go into their final-day fixture against Como with a shot at survival (Lecce host Genoa). Udinese, meanwhile, go into it off the back of two straight wins, against Torino and Cagliari, and are looking for a third as they try to move into eighth place.

HEAD TO HEAD

There have been 23 official matches between the two sides in Friuli: the record stands at 12 Juventus wins (the last a 3-0 victory, Serie A2022/23), 8 draws (the last a 3-3 draw, Serie A 1993/94) and 3 wins for the Grigiorossi (the last a 1-2 win, Serie C 1975/76).

Cremonese have not won in Udine since 7 March 1976, when matches were still played at the old Moretti Stadium (Udinese 1-2 Cremonese, Serie C), with goals from Bortot and an own goal by Belotti for the visitors, and a temporary equaliser from Belotti.

DID YOU KNOW?

It has been since the 2012/13 season (66 points) that Udinese last finished a Serie A campaign with a points tally higher than today’s 50. That year, the Bianconeri finished fifth in the table.

Only Juventus (10.8) and Milan (9.8) complete more dribbles per match than Udinese (9.5) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Udinese are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the highest percentage of duels won in their defensive half (61.8%).

Cremonese are the 2025/26 Serie A side who concede the most shots per match inside the penalty area (10.2).

Cremonese are the 2025/26 Serie A side who concede the most corners per match (6).

Only Torino (28) have conceded more first-half goals than Cremonese (27) in Serie A 2025/26.

Udinese have picked up 14 points from their last 7 matches. Their only defeat came on 18 April 2026 (Udinese 0-1 Parma, Serie A).

Cremonese chasing a historic survival: the last time the Grigiorossi remained in Serie A
for two consecutive seasons was from 1993/94 to 1995/96 (a record run of consecutive seasons in the top flight).

COACHES and PLAYERS

Second official meeting between Kosta Runjaic and Marco Giampaolo: the Friuli side’s manager won the only previous encounter (Lecce 0-1 Udinese, Serie A 2024/25).

Only Mateo Pellegrino (52) and Rasmus Højlund (44) have won more ground duels in the attacking half than Keinan Davis (43) in the 2025/26 Serie A season.

Jamie Vardy on target against Pisa: the English striker’s sixth goal in this league campaign. He hadn’t scored since 8 January 2026 (Cremonese v Cagliari 2-2, Serie A).

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: Ehizibue (Udinese)

Cautioned: Kristensen, Kamara (Udinese); Vardy, Luperto (Cremonese)

REFEREE

MANGANIELLO (BERTI – VECCHI) IV: FERRIERI CAPUTI, VAR: MARINI, AVAR: COSSO

UPCOMING MATCHES

Napoli-Udinese (tbd)

Cremonese-Como (tbd)

(Photo Getty Images)