Cremonese vs Como. H2H and prediction — May 24, 2026
On Sunday, May 24, the Stadio Giovanni Zini in Cremona will host the clash of the final, 38th round of the Italian Serie A as Cremonese face off against Como. Get ready for a classic last-day drama, where the pitch will see colliding motivations. The home side are locked in a desperate, existential battle for top-flight survival, while the visitors are striving to book a Champions League place.
Cremonese, under the leadership of Marco Giampaolo—who replaced Davide Nicola in March—have pulled off a minor miracle at the end of the season and kept their hopes of salvation alive. A string of crucial wins, including a recent 3-0 over Pisa and a vital 1-0 away at Udinese, lifted the team to 18th place with 34 points. The "Gray and Reds" trail safety by just a single point, with Lecce sitting 17th. The equation is simple: Cremonese must win at home and hope their direct rival slips up. The stands have been electrified by the triumphant return from injury of legendary 39-year-old Jamie Vardy—the English veteran immediately scored against Pisa and is in outstanding mental shape. Up front alongside him, Giampaolo will rely on Federico Bonazzoli, the team’s top scorer this season.
Como, under Cesc Fàbregas, have become the revelation and most stylish surprise of the Italian season. The club is solidly in 5th place with 68 points, having delivered a historic campaign that included a run to the Coppa Italia semifinals and a guaranteed European berth. Fàbregas has built an incredibly attractive side, level on points with Juventus and still theoretically able to snatch 4th place if Roma falter in their parallel fixture. Cesc has no intention of dropping points to an underdog—finishing above Juve is fundamental for Como’s ambitious project. The key man on the pitch will be the young Argentine gem Nico Paz, who has netted 12 goals from midfield, while up front the Greek striker Tasos Douvikas—already with 13 Serie A goals—will lead the line.
This match will be pure nerves. Giampaolo will set up a balanced structure, but with the home crowd roaring and stakes sky-high, Cremonese will surge forward from the opening whistle, aggressively peppering the Como box with crosses and long balls to Vardy. Fàbregas’s Como will gladly accept an open fight—they won’t abandon their trademark vertical style and possession play. Nico Paz and Máximo Perrone will dictate the tempo in midfield, probing for gaps that are bound to appear as the hosts ramp up their attacking risk.
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last five meetings: four wins for Cremonese and one draw
- Cremonese have won three of their last ten matches, losing six
- Como are unbeaten in four matches: three wins and one draw. They haven’t conceded a single goal in that span
Prediction
Both clubs need a win, so I expect an intense game with goals at both ends. My prediction: both teams to score – YES, at 1.75
