Neutral venue strips Cremonese of their usual edge: prediction for Cremonese vs Sampdoria
Sampdoria
The opening round clash of the Coppa Italia between Cremonese and Sampdoria is set for August 17, 2026, in Bolzano, taking place on neutral ground as the Stadio Giovanni Zini is unavailable. Both clubs are gearing up for the Serie B campaign and aiming to fight for promotion back to the top flight this season. The winner of this tie will meet Parma in the next round.
Cremonese: rebuilding after relegation
Cremonese have failed to secure their place in Serie A for the second time in three years and are heading back to the second division. The team made a decent start last season, but just three wins in their final 22 matches all but ended their survival hopes, despite the efforts of Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli.
Marco Giampaolo is shaking up the squad: recent arrivals include Salvatore Elia and Alessandro Vogliacco. In pre-season, Cremonese went unbeaten, with David Stuckler netting the winner against Verona, which could earn the young forward a spot alongside Bonazzoli.
Sampdoria: Corradi gets significant reinforcements
After another year in Serie B, Sampdoria's management entrusted the team to Bernardo Corradi, who is taking the reins of a senior club for the first time in his career. The Genoese side was busy in the summer, bringing in several experienced players, including Lorenzo Insigne.
Other new faces include Luca Ravanelli, Danel Sinani, and Yari Verschaeren. In their latest friendly, Sampdoria beat Parma 2-0, with Tobias Lauritsen getting on the scoresheet and staking his claim as a key figure in the new attacking setup.
Match facts
- Cremonese went unbeaten in all four pre-season friendlies: two wins and two draws.
- Sampdoria wrapped up preparations with a 2-0 win over Parma.
- The match will be played in Bolzano on neutral ground, meaning Cremonese lose their usual home advantage.
Ambitious visitors can seize the moment: Cremonese vs Sampdoria prediction
Cremonese are still in the midst of rebuilding after Serie A relegation, and playing away from the Zini further erodes any nominal home advantage. Giampaolo's men have the firepower to score, but their confidence after last season's struggles remains uncertain.
Sampdoria, meanwhile, have revamped their squad and already shown positive signs in pre-season. If the new signings hit the ground running, Corradi's side looks ready to kick off a new era with a cup victory.
