Match Preview: Milan vs Cremonese

The opening fixture of the Serie A season will see AC Milan host newly-promoted Cremonese on August 23 at their home ground, San Siro. This preview provides an in-depth look at the match, including a prediction, betting odds, and essential statistics for the Milan – Cremonese encounter.

AC Milan Overview

Milan’s Recent Form and Season Preparations

AC Milan experienced a disappointing previous season, finishing in eighth place with 63 points. This marked their first failure to secure a top-six spot in Serie A since the 2016-17 campaign. Despite the overall setback, the club ended the season strongly, winning four of their last five league matches. The Rossoneri also showcased potent attacking capabilities in the last Serie A edition, netting 61 goals, a tally surpassed only by Inter (79) and Atalanta (78). In preparation for the upcoming season, Milan participated in five friendly matches, securing only two victories (1 draw, 2 losses).

Squad Changes and New Management for AC Milan

During the offseason, Milan underwent significant squad changes. Defenders Malick Thiaw, Theo Hernandez, and Emerson Royal departed, along with midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and forward Noah Okafor. Loan spells for defender Kyle Walker and striker Tammy Abraham concluded, while Álvaro Morata moved to Como on loan. Conversely, the Milan squad welcomed new arrivals, including defenders Koni De Winter and Pervis Estupiñán, midfielders Luka Modrić, Ardon Jashari, and Samuele Ricci, as well as forward Victor Boniface. Furthermore, Massimiliano Allegri has been appointed as the new head coach, taking the helm of the team.

Key Milan Home Statistics

• The club has avoided defeat in 12 of their last 14 home Serie A matches (6 wins, 6 draws).
• They scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 6 of their previous 8 home league fixtures.
• Both teams found the net in 8 of Milan’s last 11 home Serie A games.

AC Milan Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Mike Maignan – Alex Jimenez, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic, Pervis Estupiñán – Youssouf Fofana, Samuele Ricci, Luka Modrić – Christian Pulisic, Santiago Jimenez, Alexis Saelemaekers.

Milan Team News

Forward Rafael Leão sustained an injury and will be unavailable for this match.

Cremonese Overview

Cremonese’s Journey to Serie A and Pre-season

Last season, Cremonese competed in Serie B, securing a fourth-place finish with 61 points, which earned them a spot in the promotion play-offs for Italy’s top flight. They successfully navigated past Juve Stabia (1:2, 3:0) and Spezia (0:0, 3:2) to clinch promotion. As a result, the team will play in Serie A for only the second time this century. Notably, during their last championship campaign, the club demonstrated strong attacking form away from home, scoring 32 goals in 19 matches, a figure only surpassed by Sassuolo (35). In their summer pre-season, Cremonese played three friendly matches, recording one win, one draw, and one loss.

Cremonese Squad Additions and New Coach

Cremonese bolstered their squad during the offseason with several key additions. Goalkeeper Emil Audero, defenders Filippo Terracciano and Federico Baschirotto, midfielders Warren Bondo and Alberto Grassi, and forwards Antonio Sanabria, Jari Vandeputte, and Alessio Zerbin all joined the club. Additionally, Cremonese appointed a new head coach, Davide Nicola, to lead the team.

Key Cremonese Away Statistics

• The team has failed to win in 18 of their last 19 away Serie A matches (8 draws, 10 losses).
• The club conceded at least two goals in 7 of their previous 9 away fixtures in this competition.
• At least three goals were scored in 6 of Cremonese’s last 9 away Serie A matches.

Cremonese Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)

Emil Audero – Francesco Folino, Federico Baschirotto, Matteo Bianchetti – Alessio Zerbin, Michele Collocolo, Alberto Grassi, Jari Vandeputte, Giuseppe Pezzella – Manuel De Luca, Antonio Sanabria.

Cremonese Team News

Due to suspensions, defender Tommaso Barbieri and midfielders Franco Vázquez and Mattia Valoti will miss the match.

Match Referee Profile

Giuseppe Collu (Italy)

Referee Statistics (Serie A, 2024/25):

• Matches officiated: 6
• Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 24
• Average yellow cards per match: 4
• Red cards shown: 0
• Average fouls per match: 29
• Penalties awarded: 0%

Match Prediction: Milan vs Cremonese

Anticipating a High-Scoring Encounter

I anticipate an open, high-scoring affair from these two teams. AC Milan rarely struggles to penetrate opposition defenses at home and scores with consistent regularity. In their last 11 Serie A home matches, Milan players failed to score only once, and on five occasions during this period, they netted at least two goals. However, the team has also struggled to keep a clean sheet, failing to do so in 9 of their last 11 home league fixtures.

Cremonese’s Away Performance Analysis

During their most recent stint in Serie A during the 2022-23 season, Cremonese showed an ability to score in away games, even if they struggled to pick up points. In their last eight away clashes in the Italian top flight, the club failed to score on only two occasions, and in four of those matches, they managed to net at least twice. Despite this, their defensive issues were pronounced: Cremonese conceded in their last 19 away Serie A encounters, letting in at least two goals in 13 of those games.

Final Betting Pick

Considering these insights, I anticipate an engaging, open match with a high number of goals. My prediction for this game is: Total Goals Over 2.5 with odds of 1.63