Udinese vs Cremonese: Serie A Clash with Relegation Implications

Udinese welcome Cremonese to the Bluenergy Stadium - Stadio Friuli in Udine on 17 May 2026, with both sides entering the penultimate round of the Serie A season under very different kinds of pressure. In the league, Udinese sit 10th on 50 points, comfortably mid-table, while Cremonese arrive in 18th with 31 points and a relegation note attached to their standing. For the visitors, every point is potentially decisive in the fight to avoid dropping into Serie B.

Context and stakes

With 36 matches played in the league, Udinese have built a solid, if inconsistent, campaign: 14 wins, 8 draws, 14 defeats, a goal difference of -1 (45 scored, 46 conceded). A top-half finish is within reach, and a strong home performance would help consolidate that.

Cremonese, by contrast, are in deep trouble. They have 7 wins, 10 draws and 19 losses, with a goal difference of -23 (30 for, 53 against). Their table description explicitly flags “Relegation - Serie B”, underlining how critical the final two rounds are. An away result in Udine could be their lifeline.

Form and momentum

In the league, Udinese’s recent form line reads “WWDLW” – three wins, one draw and one defeat in their last five. That suggests they are finishing the season with a degree of momentum. Their broader season form string is streaky, but the key point is that they have found ways to win regularly enough to sit safely in mid-table.

Cremonese’s form line, “WLLDL”, is far more fragile: one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five. Across all phases, they have endured long losing runs (a biggest losing streak of four) and have struggled to turn draws into victories. The psychological balance heading into this fixture is therefore tilted towards the hosts.

Tactical shapes and stylistic clash

Both sides are heavily wedded to three-at-the-back systems. Udinese’s most-used formation is 3-5-2 (18 matches), with 3-4-2-1 also appearing frequently (8 matches). Cremonese likewise favour 3-5-2 (24 matches), with occasional switches to 4-4-2 and 3-1-4-2.

That symmetry suggests a tactical battle built around the midfield line and wing-backs:

• Udinese in 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 typically rely on a compact back three, a hard-working central block, and vertical service into the front line. Their average of 1.3 goals for and 1.3 against per match across all phases points to a relatively balanced side. At home, they score 1.0 and concede 1.1 per game on average: not explosive, but competitive.
• Cremonese in their 3-5-2 are more conservative by necessity. They average just 0.8 goals for and 1.5 against per match, underlining their attacking limitations and defensive vulnerability. Away from home, those figures worsen to 0.7 scored and 1.6 conceded on average. Expect them to keep a tight block, protect the central areas, and look for direct transitions to their forwards.

In midfield, both teams’ three-man cores and wing-backs will likely mirror each other. Udinese’s ability to progress the ball more cleanly and create better shooting positions is supported by their higher goal output and fewer matches failing to score (9 in total, compared to Cremonese’s 17).

Key players and attacking threats

For Udinese, Keinan Davis is the standout attacking reference. The 27-year-old forward has:

• 10 league goals and 4 assists in 28 appearances (25 starts, 1,928 minutes).
• 37 shots, 24 on target, indicating a good level of efficiency.
• 28 key passes and 364 total passes at 77% accuracy, showing he contributes to link play as well as finishing.
• A strong physical and duelling profile: 305 duels contested, 143 won, and 47 fouls drawn, which can help Udinese gain territory and set-piece opportunities.

Importantly, Davis is also a reliable penalty taker: 4 scored, 0 missed this season. Combined with Udinese’s team penalty record (5 scored from 5), they have a trustworthy solution from the spot if Cremonese’s often-aggressive defending inside the box is punished.

For Cremonese, Federico Bonazzoli is their primary attacking outlet:

• 9 goals and 1 assist in 33 appearances (29 starts, 2,379 minutes).
• 54 shots, 30 on target, a high volume for a team that creates relatively few chances.
• 803 passes at 84% accuracy and 13 key passes: he contributes significantly in build-up as well as finishing.
• 75 fouls drawn, indicating his importance in winning free-kicks and relieving pressure.

Bonazzoli has also converted 2 penalties without a miss, giving Cremonese their own reliable option if they can force mistakes in the Udinese box.

Defensive patterns and discipline

Defensively, Udinese are clearly more stable:

• 11 clean sheets across all phases (6 at home, 5 away).
• 46 goals conceded in 36 matches (1.3 per game).
• They have failed to score in 9 matches, but their clean-sheet record suggests they can manage games where the attack is not flowing.

Cremonese:

• 10 clean sheets (6 at home, 4 away), which is respectable, but overshadowed by 53 goals conceded (1.5 per game).
• They have failed to score in 17 matches, highlighting a chronic lack of cutting edge.
• Away from home, 28 conceded in 18 matches, and 10 away games without scoring.

Discipline could also be a factor late in the season. Udinese’s yellow-card distribution peaks between minutes 61–90, while Cremonese pick up a high number of yellows in the final quarter-hour and have multiple red cards recorded late in games (notably in the 91–105 range). In a high-stress relegation battle, Cremonese’s tendency to collect cards late on could be costly against a physically strong striker like Davis.

Home vs away dynamics

Udinese’s home record in the league:

• Played 18: 6 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses.
• 18 goals for, 20 against.

It is not fortress-like, but it is solid enough, and their biggest home win this season is 3-0. They have also kept 6 home clean sheets, suggesting that when they control the game, they can shut opponents out.

Cremonese’s away record:

• Played 18: 4 wins, 3 draws, 11 losses.
• 13 goals for, 28 against.

They concede more than twice as many as they score away from home and have failed to score in 10 away fixtures. Their heaviest away defeats have gone up to 5-0, underscoring their vulnerability when chasing games.

Head-to-head record (competitive matches only)

Looking at the last competitive meetings (excluding friendlies):

1. 20 October 2025, Stadio Giovanni Zini (Serie A) Cremonese 1-1 Udinese – draw.
2. 23 April 2023, Dacia Arena (Serie A) Udinese 3-0 Cremonese – Udinese home win.
3. 30 October 2022, Stadio Giovanni Zini (Serie A) Cremonese 0-0 Udinese – draw.

Over these three competitive fixtures:

• Udinese wins: 1
• Cremonese wins: 0
• Draws: 2

Udinese also have the psychological edge of that 3-0 home victory in 2023, even if the most recent meeting ended level.

Set-pieces and penalties

Both sides are perfect from the spot this season based on available data:

• Udinese: 5 penalties scored out of 5 at team level; Davis individually 4 scored, 0 missed.
• Cremonese: 3 penalties scored out of 3; Bonazzoli individually 2 scored, 0 missed.

Given Cremonese’s need to push for points and their higher late-card count, the probability of penalty incidents is non-trivial. Udinese’s ability to draw fouls through Davis’s physical play, and Cremonese’s reliance on Bonazzoli to win and convert chances, make set-pieces a key battleground.

The verdict

On paper, this fixture tilts clearly towards Udinese. They are higher in the league, in better form, with a stronger attack (45 goals vs Cremonese’s 30) and a more reliable defence. Their home record is solid, and they have a proven match-winner in Keinan Davis, supported by a team that can both create and convert penalties.

Cremonese’s desperation for points and their slightly better away win tally than home (4 vs 3) suggest they cannot be dismissed entirely. Their 3-5-2 structure mirrors Udinese’s and could lead to a tight, tactical contest if they keep their shape and avoid early damage.

However, the weight of evidence – league position, goal difference, recent form, home/away splits and head-to-head history – points towards Udinese having the upper hand. A low-to-medium scoring game with Udinese controlling key phases and Cremonese relying heavily on Bonazzoli’s individual moments feels the most plausible scenario.

Udinese go into 17 May 2026 as favourites to extend their strong finish, while Cremonese face the daunting task of overturning their away struggles to keep their survival hopes alive.