Udinese vs Cremonese: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 17.05.2026
One of the matches of the 37th round of the Italian championship will take place on Sunday at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, where local side Udinese host Cremonese. Here's my pick for the outcome of this clash: the hosts are calmly cruising toward the end of the season in mid-table, while the visitors are fighting tooth and nail for every chance in the battle for survival.
Match preview
Udinese are finishing the season without any relegation panic, but Kosta Runjaić's team doesn't appear to be taking their foot off the gas. Over their last five matches, the Friulians have picked up ten points, defeating Milan 3-0, Torino 2-0, and Cagliari 2-0 - good enough to put them in the league's top four by form over this stretch.
What stands out most is that Udinese have kept clean sheets in two consecutive rounds - a rare feat for the team this season. Kingsley Ehizibue will miss this match due to suspension, while Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Alessandro Zanoli are sidelined with injuries. However, Keinan Davis has returned with an assist and should once again be the focal point up front.
Cremonese have gained a serious boost in their survival fight after a 3-0 win over already relegated Pisa. Marco Giampaolo's side took advantage of two red cards for their opponents, and several attacking players finally clicked: Jamie Vardy scored his first goal since January, Federico Bonazzoli found the net from open play for the second match in a row, and David Okereke ended an almost two-month goal drought.
The visitors' biggest problem is that they need to translate their home surge into away form, but their road record is almost catastrophic. In 2026, Cremonese have lost eight out of nine away Serie A matches, only managing a 2-0 win at Parma before failing to score in away defeats to Cagliari (0-1) and Napoli (0-4). With just a one-point gap to safety, the margin for error is razor thin - especially with Lecce playing in a parallel fixture.
Probable lineups
- Udinese: Okoye, Bertola, Kristensen, Solé, Zemura, Karlström, Piotrowski, Atta, Camara, Zaniolo, Buksa.
- Cremonese: Audero, Terracciano, Bianchetti, Luperto, Golino, Barbieri, Maleh, Grassi, Vandaputte, Bonazzoli, Vardy.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Udinese have collected ten points from their last five Serie A games and have kept two consecutive clean sheets.
- Cremonese have lost eight of their nine away league matches in 2026.
- Udinese have not lost to Cremonese in the league since 1985.
Prediction
Cremonese will be playing with maximum motivation, as they still have a chance to escape the drop zone and leapfrog Lecce. But their away form is too worrying: few goals, frequent defeats, and a clear reliance on isolated incidents, as seen against Pisa after the red cards. Udinese currently look more organized, fresher, and more confident in their tactical structure. Runjaić's team isn't simply seeing out the season - they're maintaining a high tempo, which is especially evident in their recent shutout victories.
