Cremonese vs Verona Predictions

• Verona have boosted their survival hopes by posting two wins and a draw (against Napoli) in their last three games.
• Cremonese, meanwhile, have only won two of their last nine in all competitions (D2 L5).
• The hosts were in action less than 72 hours before this fixture, as they lost their Coppa Italia semi-final tie against Fiorentina.
• Verona beat Cremonese 2-0 in January’s return fixture between the teams.

Gialloblu escape on?

Verona, Cremonese and Sampdoria have appeared certain to make up Serie A’s relegation spots for the majority of the season, but as the run-in intensifies, there are green shoots of recovery visible for one of those teams. Marco Zaffaroni’s Verona have taken seven points from their last three games to move within a single point of safety, and they have the chance to overtake Spezia and Lecce – while all but ending Cremonese’s own survival hopes – on Sunday.

Verona’s recent upturn is made all the more impressive by the identity of their opponents. In-form duo Sassuolo and Bologna were both vanquished at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi either side of a goalless draw at Napoli – a game Verona could even have won as Cyril Ngonge missed a last-gasp one-on-one chance. Zaffaroni’s five wins at the helm to date have all come at home, but the first of those did see Cremonese beaten in a 2-0 success for the Gialloblu in January.

While Verona appear to have timed their run of form perfectly, Cremonese failed to build on the momentum generated by back-to-back wins over Sampdoria and Empoli as they were thrashed 3-0 by Udinese last week, and Thursday saw their gallant Coppa Italia run grind to a halt as a 0-0 draw with Fiorentina ensured they lost their semi-final tie. While Davide Ballardini shuffled his pack for that match, aware of the importance of Sunday’s contest, they have been given under 72 hours to prepare, as opposed to Verona’s nine days.

Verona the form side in relegation dogfight

With Cremonese facing a very tight turnaround from their cup assignment and Verona in a rich vein of form, we’re advising punters to back the Gialloblu to do something they haven’t done all campaign – win an away game in Serie A.

With 15 goals conceded in 16 games since the World Cup break, Verona have certainly improved as a defensive unit under Zaffaroni. Cremonese have failed to net in three of their last five, so the visitors may be worth backing to battle their way to a vital one-goal success.

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