Cremonese vs Inter Milan: Preview, Prediction, and Team News

In the heart of Serie A's intense title race, Inter Milan travels to Stadio Giovanni Zini to face a desperate Cremonese side on February 1, 2026. As Gameweek 23 unfolds, the Nerazzurri have a golden opportunity to pull eight points clear of rivals AC Milan, capitalizing on their two-day head start. This matchup pits the league's most dominant force against a team in freefall, promising drama on and off the pitch.

Match Preview: Inter's Dominance Meets Cremonese's Despair

Inter Milan enters this fixture riding high after a emphatic 6-2 demolition of Pisa last week, extending their unbeaten Serie A streak to 10 matches. Under manager Cristian Chivu, the Lombardy giants have transformed last season's Scudetto heartbreak—losing to Napoli—into a campaign of redemption. Currently five points ahead of AC Milan and nine clear of Napoli, Inter's form has been electric. They've won the joint-most games in Europe's top five leagues this season and boast the third-best attack with 50 goals already tallied.

However, Inter's European ambitions hit a snag in the Champions League. After a promising start with four straight wins, three consecutive losses dropped them out of the top eight in the league phase. Their recent 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund, thanks to Federico Dimarco's stunning free-kick and Andy Diouf's follow-up, secured a high seeding in the knockout playoffs but not automatic last-16 entry. Now, they must navigate a playoff against Bodo/Glimt before dreaming of a third Champions League final in four years.

Domestically, Inter's away record is the envy of Italy: eight wins and just nine goals conceded on the road. Since their October loss to Napoli, they've triumphed in all six league away games. Against bottom-half teams like Cremonese, Inter is unbeaten, scoring 31 goals while conceding only six. Historically, they've won all but one of their last eight league visits to Cremonese, including a 4-1 thrashing earlier this season at San Siro where Dimarco again shone.

Contrast that with Cremonese's nightmare. The Grigiorossi, back in Serie A after promotion, started brightly but have plummeted. Over their last eight matchdays, they've earned just three points, scored only two goals, and failed to score in seven games. Locked on 23 points with several relegation rivals, they're one point above the drop zone. Manager Davide Nicola, a survival expert, faces mounting pressure after a 0-0 draw with Hellas Verona and a 1-0 loss to Sassuolo. Seven straight home defeats underline their woes, with forwards Federico Bonazzoli and Jamie Vardy stuck on five goals each.

Cremonese's form reads L L D L D L in Serie A, a far cry from Inter's W W D W W W. All competitions for Inter: D W W L W W. This regional derby feels lopsided, but Cremonese will draw motivation from halting Inter's charge.

Key Battles to Watch

Inter's left flank could be decisive. Dimarco, chasing a personal best of 12 goal involvements (five goals, seven assists) in 20 games, will test Cremonese's right side. Up top, Lautaro Martinez's 12 league goals make him a constant threat. For Cremonese, new signing Milan Djuric—returning to a former club at 35—joins Youssef Maleh from Lecce to bolster the attack. Yet, injuries to Michele Collocolo, Warren Bondo, and Martin Payero, plus Tommaso Barbieri's suspension, weaken their setup.

Team News and Possible Lineups

Inter remains without key midfielders Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella, opening the door for Davide Frattesi to start—his only prior league outing was in the reverse fixture. Alessandro Bastoni and Martinez return after bench stints in Dortmund. Dimarco is likely to feature unless rested.

Cremonese hopes Djuric and Maleh can spark life into their offense. Goalkeeper Alex Meret is expected to start, but defensive frailties persist.

Cremonese Possible Starting Lineup (3-5-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Zerbin, Maleh, Grassi, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, Vardy.

Inter Milan Possible Starting Lineup (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries (or Darmian), Frattesi, Mkhitaryan, Diouf, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram.

Prediction: Inter to Prevail Comfortably

Inter's superior firepower and away prowess should overwhelm Cremonese's porous defense. The visitors' perfect record against bottom-half sides and historical edge at Stadio Zini point to a routine win. Cremonese's scoring drought—failing to net in seven of eight recent games—means Inter could keep a clean sheet while extending their lead.

Expect goals from Martinez or Dimarco, with Inter winning 3-0. This result would not only boost morale ahead of their Coppa Italia quarter-final against Torino and the Derby d'Italia but also solidify their title credentials. For Cremonese, avoiding defeat is the best they can hope for in their survival scrap.

As Serie A heats up, this clash underscores the chasm between contenders and strugglers. Fans in the US tuning in via streaming services like Paramount+ will witness Inter's march toward glory—or a rare upset from the underdogs.

(Word count: 752)