Cremonese vs Lazio prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2022-09-17 13:00.
The daggers are not yet drawn for Cremonese coach Massimiliano Alvini but hands are surely resting on hilts, as they wait for a first Serie A (SA) win this campaign (D2, L4). Consecutive draws against two decent sides would have pleased Alvini and the hierarchy at the club, especially after conceding just one goal across those two games compared to the nine in the four prior, giving some hope at least that they can defy the odds and extend their top-flight stay after their 26-year absence prior to this season.
The new-found grit needs to be complemented by goals as Cremonese have scored just three times across the last five matches. They may fall back on history for inspiration ahead of their first league match against Lazio since March 1996 when they triumphed 2-1 at home, as Cremonese’s four home H2H wins (D2, L1) are their most against any opponent in the competition.
Whether it’s a good time to face Lazio is open to debate after the capital club suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat at Danish club Midtjylland in what was their worst-ever Europa League defeat, a result which left coach Maurizio Sarri pondering “these sudden emotional collapses”, which have continued from last season. At least there’s additional motivation on this trip with the six teams above Lazio facing each other this round, giving them a chance to move up the table after a fair start to the season (W3, D2, L1).
An early lead could settle nerves and with Lazio scoring the match opener in their last four SA matches, that prospect can’t be ruled out. Dropping the baton late could be a worry though, as Lazio have let the lead slip in two of their last three league games, including a draw at Sampdoria on their last trip which marked their third straight away stalemate in the league – their most in a row since March 2016.
Players to watch: Cyriel Dessers will hope to be a bit more effective for Cremonese with his 18 shots yet to land a SA goal. Meanwhile, including three of his four assists this season, Sergej Milinković-Savić’s has seen 56% of his career SA assists end in a goal by Ciro Immobile.
Hot stat: Cremonese have scored their last four SA goals in the second half with three coming beyond the 75th minute.