Roma vs Cremonese

Roma will be looking to book their place in the Coppa Italia semi-finals when they take on Serie A whipping boys Cremonese at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma’s five-match unbeaten start to the new calendar year (W4, D1) ended abruptly at runaway Serie A leaders Napoli last weekend, with Jose Mourinho’s side suffering a late 2-1 defeat in southern Italy. The two goals they conceded at the Stadio Diego Maradona were as many as ‘I Giallorossi’ had shipped in their first five outings in 2023. After squeezing past second-tier Genoa 1-0 in the last Coppa Italia round, Jose Mourinho’s men are gunning for their first semi-final appearance since 2016/17. It’s a little wonder the bookmakers back Roma for success here, considering the hosts have won their three home matches in 2023 without conceding.

Meanwhile, no strangers to upsetting the odds, Cremonese ousted Napoli on penalties after an action-packed 2-2 draw in the previous Coppa Italia round. However, there’s not much ‘La Cremo’ can find encouraging these days after a 2-1 home loss to Inter Milan at the weekend saw them become the first team to go winless in the first 20 matches of a Serie A season since 2003/04. Davide Ballardini’s men found themselves on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline on their top-flight visit to the Stadio Olimpico earlier this season, extending their losing H2H run against Roma to four games. Moreover, they’ve failed to score in their last three encounters against ‘I Giallorossi.’