Jakarta - Fiorentina will host Cremonese in the continuation of Serie A at the Stadio Franchi, Sunday, January 4, with great pressure on the hosts' shoulders. Closing 2025 with a defeat from fellow bottom team Parma, Fiorentina is now at the bottom of the standings and starting the new year with an almost emergency situation.
La Viola finally broke the winning streak in Serie A when they defeated Udinese who played with 10 people, but the momentum immediately evaporated. Visiting Parma, Fiorentina was again blunt. Albert Gudmundsson and Roberto Piccoli failed to maximize the opportunity, and the defeat kept them entrenched in the cellar with only nine points.
The statistics are brutal. Fiorentina suffered 23 defeats in 52 matches in all competitions last year, one of the worst records in the club's history. Paolo Vanoli, the third coach since May, is under extreme pressure. At home, Fiorentina have always conceded in the last 10 Serie A matches, their worst record since 1938. As many as 13 goals from dead ball situations this season confirm the unresolved structural problems.
The January transfer window does give a glimmer of hope, especially with the possible arrival of Fabio Paratici as sporting director. However, Fiorentina cannot wait for a mid-term revolution. They need points now, and the match against Cremonese comes at a crucial time.
Historically, Fiorentina has reason to be optimistic. They have never lost in 12 Serie A meetings against Cremonese. However, the context of this season makes past statistics feel fragile. Cremonese is actually comfortable in the middle of the table with 21 points, closer to the European zone than the relegation vortex.
However, the visiting team's performance is not entirely stable. The 0-2 defeat to Napoli last week extended their winning streak to three games. More worrying, Davide Nicola's troops failed to score in that period, with Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli both barren.
However, Cremonese have repeatedly troubled big teams since promotion from Serie B, and the trip to Florence is not considered an impossible mission. With a relatively solid three-back defense structure, Cremo has the potential to exploit Fiorentina's anxiety that is easy to panic when behind.
In terms of the team, Fiorentina still misses Jacopo Fazzini and Tariq Lamptey due to injury. Moise Kean has just returned from a sudden leave and his condition is not yet fully ideal. However, the return of Luca Ranieri from suspension gives Vanoli additional options in the back line. Robin Gosens has also returned to the pitch, while Manor Solomon is rumored to be joining soon on loan status.
Cremonese only lost Michele Collocolo, while Federico Ceccherini is back available. Bonazzoli, who scored his first Serie A goal at the Franchi in 2019, is predicted to return to duet with Vardy in the front line.
This match has the potential to run open. Fiorentina too needs a victory to play safely, while Cremonese is quite comfortable waiting for a gap. With high mental pressure in the home team, a draw with a big enough score looks like the most realistic scenario.
The prediction leads to a 2-2 score. Fiorentina has not completely sunk, but it is also not solid enough to claim the full three points.
The estimated player line-up:
Fiorentina: De Gea; Pongracic, Comuzzo, Ranieri; Dodo, Mandragora, Fagioli, Ndour, Parisi; Gudmundsson, Kean
Cremonese: Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Barbieri, Payero, Bondo, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, Vardy
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