Inter Milan will aim to pull away at the summit of Serie A when they travel to Cremonese on Sunday.
Inter Milan head to Stadio Zini on Sunday evening with an opportunity to tighten their grip on the Serie A title race, while hosts Cremonese attempt to arrest a worrying slide that has dragged them back toward trouble.
The timing of this fixture could hardly be better for Inter. Playing two days before closest challengers AC Milan, the Nerazzurri know that victory in Cremona would temporarily open up an eight-point gap at the summit. After surrendering the Scudetto to Napoli last season, Inter have responded with authority, piecing together one of the most dominant domestic campaigns in Europe.
Their emphatic 6-2 dismantling of Pisa last weekend was another statement of intent, extending an unbeaten league run to ten matches and reinforcing their status as clear favourites. Cristian Chivu’s side have combined consistency with ruthlessness.
Inter are among the most prolific winners across Europe’s top five leagues this season and boast one of the division’s most potent attacks, having already reached the 50-goal mark. Just as importantly, they have found a rhythm that others around them have struggled to sustain, capitalising on dropped points elsewhere to build a commanding advantage.
Europe has offered a more complicated narrative. Inter’s hopes of a smoother route to a third Champions League final in four years were dented by a stuttering league-phase finish. Although Wednesday’s 2-0 victory away at Borussia Dortmund restored confidence, it was not enough to secure a top-eight place, consigning them to the playoff route.
Federico Dimarco’s sublime free kick and a composed finish from Andy Diouf sealed that win, but the reward is a two-legged tie with Bodo/Glimt rather than direct passage to the last 16. Before that continental distraction returns, Inter must navigate a demanding domestic stretch. Alongside this trip to Cremona, they face a Coppa Italia quarter-final against Torino, a tricky league visit to Sassuolo, and the looming Derby d’Italia.
Encouragingly for Chivu, his side have thrived away from home. Inter Milan hold Serie A’s best road record, with eight away wins and just nine goals conceded, and they have won all six domestic away matches since their October defeat to Napoli.
The match-up itself heavily favours the visitors. Inter Milan have been flawless against teams in the bottom half this season, scoring freely while maintaining defensive control, and their historical record at Cremonese is equally imposing. They have won all but one of their previous league visits to Stadio Zini and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Cremonese at San Siro earlier this campaign.
For Cremonese, the outlook is far less encouraging. What began as a promising return to Serie A has unravelled dramatically. Davide Nicola’s side are enduring a torrid run, collecting just three points from their last eight matches. During that spell, they have scored only twice and failed to find the net in seven games, numbers that underline the scale of their attacking problems.
A goalless draw against Hellas Verona briefly steadied the ship, but last weekend’s narrow defeat to Sassuolo extended a sequence that has seen Cremonese lose seven consecutive home matches. While they remain just above the relegation zone in a tightly packed lower half, the margin for error is shrinking rapidly, and the pressure is mounting on a coach renowned for late-season survival acts.
The lack of cutting edge has been particularly damaging. Federico Bonazzoli and Jamie Vardy have struggled to convert limited chances, and without a reliable source of goals, Cremonese have often found themselves undone by a single moment. Facing a relentless Inter side that excels at exploiting defensive lapses only magnifies the challenge. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
US Cremonese
Cremonese have moved to address their attacking struggles ahead of Sunday’s test by adding experience to the squad. Head coach Davide Nicola has brought in veteran striker Milan Djuric, with the 35-year-old returning to one of his former clubs in an attempt to provide a focal point and presence in the final third. In midfield, Youssef Maleh is close to completing a loan move from Lecce and could be involved if the deal is finalised in time, offering energy and ball-carrying ability through the centre.
However, the hosts are still dealing with several notable absences. Michele Collocolo, Warren Bondo, and Antonio Sanabria remain sidelined through injury, limiting Nicola’s options in both midfield and attack. On top of that, wing-back Tommaso Barbieri is suspended and will miss this fixture, further reducing flexibility in wide areas. There are no additional suspension concerns beyond Barbieri.
From a tactical perspective, Cremonese are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with an emphasis on defensive compactness and support for the forward pair. Emil Audero is likely to start in goal, shielded by a back three consisting of Filippo Terracciano on the right, Federico Baschirotto as the central organiser, and Matteo Bianchetti on the left.
The wing-back roles should be filled by Alessio Zerbin on the right and Giuseppe Pezzella on the left, both tasked with tracking Inter’s wide threats while providing width in transition. In central midfield, Martin Payero, Alberto Grassi, and Jari Vandeputte are expected to form a hard-working trio, combining ball recovery with support for the attack.
Up front, Federico Bonazzoli is likely to partner Jamie Vardy, with the pair charged with leading the line for Cremonese and capitalising on any rare openings against Inter Milan’s disciplined defence.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Zerbin, Payero, Grassi, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, Vardy
Inter Milan
Inter Milan continue to juggle absences in key areas as they prepare for Sunday’s trip to Cremona. Regular starters Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella all remain unavailable, depriving Cristian Chivu of experience and creativity on the right flank and in central midfield. There is positive news elsewhere, however, with Alessandro Bastoni and captain Lautaro Martinez both expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested for the midweek Champions League victory away at Borussia Dortmund.
With Calhanoglu and Barella sidelined, Davide Frattesi could be handed a rare opportunity to start in Serie A. The midfielder has featured sparingly this season, with his only league start coming in October’s reverse fixture against Cremonese.
On the left flank, Federico Dimarco remains a central figure and could further improve on an already outstanding personal campaign, having registered 12 goal involvements in Serie A so far, made up of five goals and seven assists. Up front, Martinez arrives in strong scoring form after moving onto 12 league goals last weekend, contrasting sharply with the more modest tallies of Cremonese forwards Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli.
Tactically, Inter are expected to maintain their familiar 3-5-2 formation, built around control in midfield and width from the wing-backs. Yann Sommer is likely to start in goal, protected by a back three consisting of Yann Aurel Bisseck on the right, Manuel Akanji in the central role, and Alessandro Bastoni on the left, providing both defensive security and progression from deep.
In midfield, Luis Henrique is set to operate as the right wing-back, while Federico Dimarco occupies the left wing-back role, offering attacking thrust and delivery from wide areas. The central trio is expected to include Davide Frattesi, Piotr Zielinski, and Petar Sucic, combining energy, ball progression, and positional discipline in the absence of Inter’s usual midfield leaders. In attack, Lautaro Martinez should partner Sebastiano Esposito, with Martinez leading the line as the primary goal threat and Esposito providing movement and link-up play around him.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Martinez, Esposito
Key Stats
- Inter Milan are unbeaten in their last ten Serie A matches.
- Inter hold the best away record in Serie A, with eight wins on the road and just nine goals conceded across their away league fixtures this season.
- Cremonese have collected only three points from their last eight league matches, the lowest total of any Serie A side over that period.
- Cremonese have failed to score in seven of their last eight Serie A games.
- Inter have won seven of their last eight Serie A visits to Stadio Zini, including a 4–1 victory earlier this season at San Siro against the same opponents.
Player to Watch
Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez remains the heartbeat of Inter Milan’s title charge, and this trip to Cremona presents another opportunity for the captain to assert his authority. Fresh from taking his Serie A tally to 12 goals, the World Cup winner continues to combine relentless work rate with ruthless efficiency, leading the line with both intensity and intelligence.
What makes Martinez especially dangerous is his movement across the front line. He does not remain fixed between the centre-backs, instead drifting into channels, dropping into midfield to link play, and attacking space with perfectly timed runs. Against a Cremonese side likely to defend deep and compact, his ability to create separation in tight areas could prove decisive.
Martinez also thrives in matches where Inter dominate territory. His pressing from the front sets the tone, while his composure inside the box often turns sustained pressure into goals. With Inter facing a congested schedule and chasing maximum points, their captain’s sharpness and leadership may once again be the difference between control and outright dominance.
Prediction
Inter Milan arrive in Cremona with momentum, depth, and a clear sense of purpose as they look to tighten their grip on the Serie A title race. Even with a few key midfield absences, the Nerazzurri retain enough structure, width, and attacking quality to control proceedings, particularly against a Cremonese side short on confidence and goals.
Cremonese’s recent struggles in front of goal make it difficult to see them troubling Inter consistently, especially against a defence that has been among the league’s most reliable. While the hosts may show fight early on, Inter’s sustained pressure and superior quality in the final third should eventually tell.
