Coppa Italia PREVIEW | Roma v Cremonese

After suffering a narrow defeat to league leaders Napoli in their last match, Roma will aim to respond by booking a semi-final place when they meet Cremonese in a Coppa Italia quarter-final clash today at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Giallorossi saw their unbeaten run end against Napoli as goals from Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone spoilt the party for Jose Mourinho’s side. Stephen El Shaarawy could equalise the scores in the 75th minute but a late goal from the Paternopei was enough to hand Roma their first defeat from 2023. 

Manager Jose Mourinho has tried to bring steadiness to Roma’s gameplay since the start of the season and so far, their quest to achieve a top-four place is still alive. 

It shouldn’t be a challenging workout for the home side against Cremonese, who sit rock bottom in the standings and still await a victory in the league. 

Meanwhile, newly promoted Cremonese are having a wild season in which they have yearned for success in the Serie A but somewhat miraculously are playing in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. 

Even though they could take an early lead in their last league fixture against Inter, a brace from Lautaro Martinez again made the Grigiorossi fall to their 12th defeat of the season. 

Cremonese showed some stupendous heroics in the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia when Felix Afena-Gyan’s 87th-minute equaliser forced Napoli into extra time. The Cremona-based side could hold the Partenopei to the penalties and Stanislav Lobotka’s missed spot-kick became the difference between the two as Napoli were humbled shockingly. 

Results from their last five matches in all competitions

Roma:

L W W W D

Cremonese:

L D W L L 

Team News

Jose Mourinho is set to miss Leonardo Spinazzola through a long-term injury. 

Out of favour Rick Karsdorp and Nicolo Zaniolo are to remain out for this fixture and this is set to continue into the season.

New loanee Diego Llorente hasn’t joined first-team training yet and so he will not be involved in today’s fixture.

As for Cremonese, Jack Hendry and Luca Zanimacchia are out for this fixture through pending transfer negotiations. 

Daniel Ciofani and David Okereke are set to start upfront but Felix Afena-Gyan’s recent stride of form can make him a potential starter for the team.

Predicted XIs

Roma (3-4-2-1): Patricio; Kumbulla, Mancini, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Bove, Zalewski; Pellegrini, El Shaarawy; Abraham

Cremonese (3-5-2): Carnesecchi; Vasquez, Chiriches, Ferrari; Sernicola, Benassi, Pickel, Meite, Valeri; Okereke, Dessers

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN