Udinese vs Cremonese: High-Stakes Serie A Clash

Bluenergy Stadium - Stadio Friuli hosts a high‑stakes clash on 17 May 2026 as mid‑table Udinese welcome relegation‑threatened Cremonese in Serie A. With Udinese sitting 10th on 50 points and Cremonese 18th on 31 points and inside the drop zone, the trajectories are very different, but both still have something tangible to play for in the closing stretch of the season.

Context and stakes

In the league, Udinese have built a solid, if inconsistent, campaign: 14 wins, 8 draws and 14 defeats, with a goal difference of -1 (45 scored, 46 conceded). They are comfortably clear of danger and pushing to cement a top‑half finish.

Cremonese, by contrast, arrive in Udine with their Serie A status on the line. They are 18th with 31 points, 7 wins, 10 draws and 19 losses, and a goal difference of -23 (30 for, 53 against). The standings tag them explicitly in the “Relegation - Serie B” zone. With only two games left, every point is potentially decisive.

Form lines underline the contrast. Udinese’s recent league form is “WWDLW”, suggesting three wins in their last five and a side finishing the season strongly. Cremonese’s “WLLDL” sequence is more erratic: one win, one draw and three defeats, the pattern of a team struggling to string results together when it matters most.

Tactical outlook: Udinese

Across all phases this season, Udinese have leaned on tactical flexibility but with a clear backbone. Their most used formation is 3‑5‑2 (18 matches), followed by 3‑4‑2‑1 (8 matches). That points to a back three, wing‑backs and a multi‑layered midfield as the default structure.

In the league, Udinese’s home record is balanced but imperfect: 6 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats from 18, with 18 goals scored and 20 conceded. They average 1.0 goal for and 1.1 against per home game, suggesting tight contests rather than blowouts. However, they have produced some emphatic scorelines: their biggest home win is 3-0, and they have managed 6 home clean sheets. At the same time, they have failed to score in 6 home fixtures, underlining a certain volatility in attack.

The numbers hint at a side comfortable defending in a mid‑block and breaking: away from home they average 1.5 goals scored, but at Friuli they are more controlled, perhaps more patient in possession. With 11 clean sheets in total and only 9 games without scoring, the baseline is a competitive, well‑balanced outfit.

One key individual is Keinan Davis, Udinese’s leading scorer in Serie A this season. He has 10 league goals and 4 assists in 28 appearances (25 starts), with an average rating of 7.06. His 24 shots on target from 37 attempts show a strong efficiency, and he is heavily involved in build‑up (364 passes, 28 key passes at 77% accuracy). Physically robust (305 duels, 143 won) and frequently fouled (47 times), Davis is central to how Udinese progress the ball and occupy centre‑backs.

From the spot, Udinese have been flawless: 5 penalties taken, 5 scored, 0 missed. Davis himself has converted 4 penalties without a miss, which adds a layer of threat if Cremonese’s back line gets exposed in the box.

Discipline is a detail worth noting. Udinese’s yellow cards cluster heavily between minutes 61‑90, especially 61‑75 (26.87%) and 76‑90 (22.39%), suggesting late‑game intensity and perhaps fatigue in a system that demands a lot from wing‑backs and midfielders. They also have a single red card this season, shown in the opening 15 minutes of a match.

Tactical outlook: Cremonese

Cremonese’s season profile is that of a team defending deep and struggling to create. Across all phases, they have 7 wins, 10 draws and 19 defeats, with only 30 goals scored (0.8 per game) and 53 conceded (1.5 per game).

Their away record in the league is stark: 4 wins, 3 draws and 11 losses from 18 away fixtures, with 13 goals scored and 28 conceded. That is 0.7 goals scored and 1.6 conceded per away match, a ratio that explains their league position. They have failed to score in 10 away games, yet they have also managed 4 away clean sheets, reflecting a low‑event style when they do get things right.

Like Udinese, Cremonese favour a back three: 3‑5‑2 has been used in 24 matches, with occasional switches to 4‑4‑2, 3‑1‑4‑2 and 3‑4‑3. Expect a compact block, wing‑backs dropping deep and a focus on transition moments rather than prolonged possession.

Federico Bonazzoli is their standout attacking figure. He has 9 goals and 1 assist in 33 appearances (29 starts), with a 7.00 average rating. He shoots frequently (54 shots, 30 on target), links play (803 passes at 84% accuracy, 13 key passes) and draws an extraordinary number of fouls (75), which is vital for a team that often builds through set‑pieces and dead‑ball situations. He has also scored 2 penalties from 2 attempts, with no misses recorded.

Cremonese’s disciplinary profile shows a tendency to pick up bookings late: 27.27% of their yellow cards arrive between minutes 76‑90. Red cards are rare but notable in stoppage time (2 between minutes 91‑105 and another in an unspecified range), something to keep in mind if this becomes a nervy, stretched finale.

Head‑to‑head record

Looking only at competitive meetings in the data (Serie A fixtures, excluding friendlies), the last three encounters are finely balanced:

• On 20 October 2025 in Serie A at Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremonese drew 1-1 at home against Udinese.
• On 23 April 2023 in Serie A at Dacia Arena, Udinese beat Cremonese 3-0.
• On 30 October 2022 in Serie A at Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremonese and Udinese drew 0-0.

Across these three competitive fixtures: Udinese have 1 win, Cremonese have 0, and there have been 2 draws. The friendly on 29 December 2022 (a 1-3 away win for Udinese) is excluded from the competitive count.

The pattern suggests Udinese have had the upper hand overall, particularly at home, but Cremonese have shown they can make it tight.

Team news

There is no injury or suspension data provided for either side, so selection issues cannot be confirmed from the available information. Both coaches are therefore assumed to have their usual tactical options open.

The verdict

On paper, Udinese enter as clear favourites. They are higher in the table, in better recent form and playing at home, where their defensive record is respectable and their structure well‑rehearsed. Their 3‑5‑2 framework, underpinned by a productive focal point in Keinan Davis and a perfect penalty record, should give them sustained pressure against a side that concedes 1.6 goals per away match.

Cremonese, however, cannot be written off. Their season shows they can occasionally grind out results on the road (4 away wins, 4 away clean sheets), and in a low‑margin relegation fight, they are likely to be extremely conservative, leaning heavily on Federico Bonazzoli’s ability to win fouls, hold the ball and threaten from limited chances.

Given Udinese’s tendency to keep matches relatively tight at home and Cremonese’s issues in front of goal, a game of controlled Udinese possession against a deep, reactive Cremonese block is the most plausible scenario. If Udinese score first, Cremonese’s low scoring rate makes a comeback statistically unlikely; if Cremonese can keep it level deep into the second half, tension and late cards could shape the closing stages.

Overall, the data points towards a narrow Udinese victory, with Cremonese needing an above‑trend attacking display to take the result they desperately need to keep survival hopes alive.