Serie A 2022-2023: Cremonese vs Inter Milan: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head

Nerrazzuri travels to Lombardy as they face the last place - the Tigers.

Inter Milan travels to winless Cremonese on Saturday at Stadio Giovanni Zini after seeing their chances of winning the Scudetto diminish even further after losing their previous game. Inter, the Supercoppa Italiana champions, were humiliated at home by Empoli on Monday, and their unfortunate hosts once again failed to win their first Serie A game after being promoted.

The Nerazzurri lost 1-0 at home to the Blues. After Milan Skriniar was sent off in the first half, Tommaso Baldanzi scored the game-winning goal in the 66th minute. It was their sixth loss of the season, and with 37 points from 19 games, Filipo Inzaghi's team fell to fourth in the standings, behind Lazio by a goal difference. At the halfway point of the season, they are a huge 13 points behind leaders Napoli, and their hopes of winning a second Scudetto in three years are quickly fading.

Cremonese, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the standings. They have only eight points from 19 games and haven't won a single one. It has been a terrible 26-year return to the top league. With Monday's 1-1 draw against Bologna, the Grigiorossi ended a streak of four losses. However, After a shocking 5-4 shootout win over Napoli in the Coppa Italia, this happened.

Kick-off: 10:30 pm (IST), 9:00 pm (GMT)

Cremonese form (all competitions): L-L-L-L-D-D

Inter Milan form (all competitions): W-D-W-W-W-L

Players to Watch

Lautaro Martinez

Since becoming the World Champion last year the Argentinian has seemed to have a boost of confidence and his play style has improved as the player has 9 goals and 3 assists in 19 games so far. The 25-year-old has been a key player for Inter this season and is expected to perform and get on the scoresheet this fixture.

Daniel Ciofani

Ciofani is a player to watch for the Cremonese. He has scored 3 goals in the Serie-A so far. The 37-year-old struggles due to his underperforming and lack of support from the team. He scored 8 goals in Serie B and played a crucial role in the team's promotion.

Match Facts

• Cremonese might join Ancona as the only team in Serie A without a single win after 20 games.

• Inter could fail to score in back-to-back Serie A games for the first time since February 2022, following their 1-0 defeat to Empoli in the previous round.

Injury and team news

On Saturday, Inter will be without Stefan de Vrij and Nicolo Barella, who is suspended for bookings. Marcelo Brozovic is also out, although Samir Handanovic should return to the bench. Francesco Acerbi will replace De Vrij in the visitors' defence, while Roberto Gagliardini or Kristjan Asllani will replace Barella.

Romelu Lukaku, who has scored only one league goal this season, is likely to be benched after going six Serie A games without a goal, his worst streak in Italy. Lautaro Martinez, meanwhile, has scored 11 goals in his past nine outings against promoted opponents, including one against Cremonese in August's reverse matchup. Charles Pickel's one-match suspension this weekend deprives Cremonese of a midfielder. Marco Benassi, an Inter primavera product, is the most likely successor.

First-choice striker Cyriel Dessers is a doubt owing to a slight muscular ailment, but Davide Ballardini will hope to have the Nigeria international, who has scored two of the Grigiorossi's three home goals this season. If Dessers doesn't make the squad, Felix Afena-Gyan or Daniel Ciofani might partner with David Okereke again.

Head-to-Head stats

Serie-A matches - 15

Inter Milan - 12

Cremonese -1

Draws - 2

Predicted Lineups

Cremonese predicted lineup:Carnesecchi; Bianchetti, Chiriches, Ferrari; Sernicola, Benassi, Castagnetti, Meite, Valeri; Okereke, Ciofani

Inter Milan predicted lineup:Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Gagliardini, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko

Match Prediction

Inter can get off to another quick start and seize control of a match that losing would be completely intolerable, as they have to recover from their blunder at San Siro at the forefront of their minds.

The Nerazzurri have scored the most goals of any Serie A team in the opening 30 minutes (13), while the Cremonese have given up the most goals (also 13), meaning the game may already be decided.

Prediction: Cremonese 0–4 Inter Milan

Where to Watch?

UK -BT Sport

US- Paramount+

India- sports 18

Nigeria- Sporty TV