Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Match Preview
Serie A midweek action comes to the Stadio Giovanni Zini on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, as Cremonese host Cagliari in a crucial bottom-half battle. Cremonese sit 13th with 21 points but are in freefall, having failed to score in their last three matches (losing to Napoli, Fiorentina, and drawing with Lazio). The arrival of veteran striker Jamie Vardy has added star power, but the goals haven’t flowed yet. Cagliari, in 15th with 18 points, are fighting tooth and nail for survival. They showed grit in a narrow 0тАУ1 loss to AC Milan just days ago and recently stunned Torino away from home. A win for the Sardinians would draw them level on points with their hosts, dragging Cremonese firmly into the relegation dogfight.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Match Info
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 19)
- Venue: Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona (Capacity: 20,641)
- Date: Wednesday, 7 January 2026
- Kickoff: 18:30 CET | 17:30 GMT | 12:30 ET
- Referee: Kevin Bonacina (ITA)
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Match Stakes
Cremonese (13th тАФ 21 pts):
- Win тЖТ Moves to 24 pts; breaks the goalless streak and restores a comfortable mid-table buffer.
- Draw тЖТ Extends winless run to 5 games; offensive struggles continue to worry fans.
- Loss тЖТ Disaster; gap to Cagliari vanishes; the team risks sliding into the relegation battle.
Cagliari (15th тАФ 18 pts):
- Win тЖТ Moves to 21 pts; huge result that levels them with Cremonese and pulls them away from the drop zone.
- Draw тЖТ A decent point on the road, but keeps them looking over their shoulder.
- Loss тЖТ Gap to safety could shrink; momentum from the Torino win dissipates.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Team News
Cremonese:
- Collocolo M. тАФ Out (Groin Injury – Midfield Engine Missing)
- Sarmiento J. тАФ Questionable (Inactive)
- Jamie Vardy тАФ Starts upfront. The English veteran is looking for his first big moment in Serie A.
- Tactical Note: Manager Giovanni Stroppa (or current boss) is relying on wing-backs Vandeputte and Pezzella to supply the crosses for Vardy and Bonazzoli.
Cagliari:
- Belotti A. тАФ Out (Knee Injury – Top Striker Missing)
- Folorunsho M. тАФ Out (Knee Injury)
- Felici M. тАФ Out (Knee Injury)
- Deiola A. тАФ Questionable (Thigh Injury)
- Esposito Se. тАФ Questionable (Injury – But in predicted lineup)
- Attack Reshuffle: Without “Il Gallo” Belotti, the creative burden falls heavily on Gianluca Gaetano to support young Sebastiano Esposito (if fit).
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Cremonese
- 04/01 тАФ 0тАУ1 vs Fiorentina (Serie A)
- 28/12 тАФ 0тАУ2 vs Napoli (Serie A)
- 20/12 тАФ 0тАУ0 vs Lazio (Serie A)
- 13/12 тАФ 0тАУ1 vs Torino (Serie A)
- 07/12 тАФ 2тАУ0 vs Lecce (Serie A)
Cagliari
- 03/01 тАФ 0тАУ1 vs AC Milan (Serie A)
- 27/12 тАФ 2тАУ1 vs Torino (Serie A)
- 21/12 тАФ 2тАУ2 vs Pisa (Serie A)
- 14/12 тАФ 1тАУ2 vs Atalanta (Serie A)
- 07/12 тАФ 1тАУ0 vs AS Roma (Serie A)
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 24/09/2024 тАФ Cagliari 1тАУ0 Cremonese (Coppa Italia)
- 28/10/2020 тАФ Cagliari 1тАУ0 Cremonese (Coppa Italia)
- 26/07/2018 тАФ Cagliari 1тАУ0 Cremonese (Friendly)
- 25/02/1996 тАФ Cremonese 3тАУ1 Cagliari (Serie A)
- 15/10/1995 тАФ Cagliari 1тАУ0 Cremonese (Serie A)
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Cremonese (3-5-2)
Audero; Folino, Baschirotto, Terracciano; Barbieri, Payero, Bondo, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, Vardy
Cagliari (3-5-1-1)
Caprile; Zappa, Rodriguez, Luperto; Palestra, Adopo, Prati, Mazzitelli, Obert; Gaetano; Esposito
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Impact Bench
Cremonese: Johnsen (Speed), Vazquez (Creativity)
Cagliari: Lapadula (Experience), Marin (Set-pieces)
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Tactical Analysis
Cremonese
The hosts are suffering from a lack of creativity. They have failed to score in over 360 minutes of football. The plan will be to get the ball wide to Jari Vandeputte and Giuseppe Pezzella to launch crosses for Jamie Vardy. Defensively, Federico Baschirotto anchors the line, but they must be wary of Cagliari’s counter-attacks.
Cagliari
Davide Nicola’s side is gritty. Even in defeat against Milan, they were organized. Without Belotti, they lack a focal point, so they will rely on Gianluca Gaetano drifting between the lines. They will likely surrender possession to Cremonese (who aren’t comfortable with it) and look to exploit errors. Set-pieces delivered by Nicolas Viola (if subbed in) or Gaetano could be decisive.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Key Battles
- Vardy vs Luperto тАФ Premier League legend vs tough Serie A defender.
- Gaetano vs Bondo тАФ The battle for space in the “hole”.
- Vandeputte vs Palestra тАФ Winger vs Wing-back duel on the flank.
- Audero vs Esposito тАФ Can the young striker beat the experienced keeper?
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Spotlight Players
Cremonese тАФ Jamie Vardy
All eyes are on the Englishman. He was brought in to score goals, but the service has been poor. Against a Cagliari defense that concedes over a goal a game, this is his best chance to open his account and become a hero in Cremona.
Cagliari тАФ Gianluca Gaetano
He is the technician of this team. With the strikers injured, Gaetano needs to produce a moment of magicтАФeither a through ball or a long-range shotтАФto steal the points.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Prediction
Cremonese 1тАУ1 Cagliari
Both teams are struggling for goals and confidence. Cremonese are desperate to end their drought, while Cagliari have been decent on the road recently. A low-scoring, scrappy draw seems inevitable, with Vardy finally getting on the scoresheet but Cagliari fighting back for a point.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Betting Insights
- Under 2.5 Goals тАФ High Probability (Cremonese goal drought).
- Draw тАФ Value Bet.
- Jamie Vardy to Score тАФ Narrative pick.
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ Where to Watch
- Italy: DAZN
- USA: Paramount+
- UK: TNT Sports
Cremonese vs Cagliari тАФ FAQs
Q: When is the Cremonese vs Cagliari match?
A: The match kicks off on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, at 18:30 CET.
Q: Is Andrea Belotti playing?
A: No. He is out with a knee injury.
Q: Who is playing upfront for Cremonese?
A: Jamie Vardy is expected to start alongside Federico Bonazzoli.
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