Napoli vs Cremonese: prediction, head-to-head stats and probable lineups — 24.04.2026
On Friday, one of the matches of Serie A's 34th round will take place at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples, where Napoli will host Cremonese. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this matchup with strong chances for success.
Match preview
Napoli come into this fixture in mixed form: on one hand, they’re on the verge of achieving their main goal - qualifying for the Champions League—but on the other, recent results have left a sour taste. A draw with Parma (1-1) and a defeat to Maurizio Sarri’s side (0-2) revealed that even while controlling the game, the Azzurri can lose their grip at key moments. Additional pressure comes from inside the club: talk of Antonio Conte’s discontent and the Romelu Lukaku situation isn’t helping stability.
Nonetheless, Napoli are traditionally aggressive in attack at home - they regularly create chances and often score two or more goals, making them especially dangerous against teams from the lower half of the table. Personnel-wise, Napoli are going through a rough patch, particularly in attack, where several key players are sidelined. However, the De Bruyne-McTominay partnership takes on the creative burden, while the defense, marshaled by Milinković-Savić and Buongiorno, has looked solid enough in recent games to offset some of the issues up front.
Cremonese arrive in Naples with a much more down-to-earth task - avoiding relegation, a mission that currently seems extremely tough. Under Marco Giampaolo, the team is searching for balance, but after a win over Parma (2-0) came losses to Bologna (1-2) and Cagliari (0-1), plus a goalless draw with Torino that did little to improve their position in the standings.
The visitors’ main asset remains their goalkeeper Emil Audero, who regularly pulls off tough saves and keeps his side in the game even under heavy pressure. In attack, hopes rest on Bonazzoli and Vandeputte, but against an organized Napoli side, they’ll have to be nearly flawless.
Probable lineups
- Napoli: Milinković-Savić, Oliveira, Buongiorno, Boey, Spinazzola, Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa, Politano, McTominay, De Bruyne, Højlund.
- Cremonese: Audero, Terracciano, Baschirotto, Luperto, Pezzella, Floriani, Bondo, Grassi, Vandeputte, Bonazzoli, Sanabria.
Match facts and head-to-head
- In all five head-to-head meetings in the 21st century, Napoli have scored at least two goals.
- In four of the last five meetings, the teams have surpassed the 2.5 goals total.
- In the previous round, Napoli lost 0-2, while Cremonese drew 0-0 with Torino.
- On average, Napoli take just 5.6 corners per match, and Cremonese allow fewer than six attempts (5.9).
Napoli rank seventh in Serie A for touches in the opposition box (24.6) and seventh in expected goals (43.9).
Prediction
This match looks like a classic showdown between a team fighting for the top of the table and one battling relegation. Even in their current turbulent state, Napoli have enough quality to control the game and consistently threaten the opposition’s goal. Cremonese will surely focus on a compact defense and another standout showing from Audero, but the pressure of the Diego Armando Maradona and the hosts’ attacking firepower should make the difference. The most logical scenario is a Napoli win, though given their current issues, it’s unlikely to be a blowout.
