It's a classic Serie A showdown when Bologna hosts Cremonese at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 1, 2025. Bologna currently sits pretty in fifth place with 21 points, riding high after a string of impressive performances, including a recent 4-1 demolition of Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League. In contrast, Cremonese finds itself languishing in 11th with just 14 points and is desperate for a turnaround after failing to secure a win in their last three league outings. It's not just about pride here; Bologna could leap into the Champions League conversation while Cremonese fights to stave off relegation thoughts.
Predicted Lineups: Bologna: GK: Łukasz Skorupski, DEF: Juan Miranda, Jhon Lucumí, Torbjørn Heggem, Emil Holm; MID: Tommaso Pobega, Lewis Ferguson, Riccardo Orsolini; FWD: Jens Odgaard, Santiago Castro, Thijs Dallinga. Cremonese: GK: Emil Audero, DEF: Matteo Bianchetti, Federico Baschirotto, Filippo Terracciano; MID: Jari Vandeputte, Warren Bondo; FWD: Jamie Vardy, Federico Bonazzoli.
Let's break it down. Bologna's recent form reads like a positive Yelp review-6 wins out of their last 9 games-with eye-catching victories against stronger teams like Napoli and Red Bull Salzburg. They're showcasing an attacking prowess that puts them on the map as more than just a mid-table team. Their offensive setup has been lethal: they netted four goals against Salzburg with players like Thijs Dallinga contributing not just goals but also consistently making himself available in key areas-2 goals and 3 assists this season are proof he knows where to be when it counts.
Meanwhile, Cremonese enters this match with its tail firmly tucked between its legs. With only one win from their last five matches and losses to AS Roma and Juventus-both packed with talent-they're grasping for answers. Defensively fragile at times (conceding eight goals in those games), they will have to shore up against Bologna's surging attack if they hope to avoid another disappointing afternoon.
Diving deeper into the numbers reveals stark contrasts between these squads. Bologna has dominated ball possession consistently across recent matches-averaging around 52% per game-and is far more efficient offensively than Cremonese. This indicates an inclination towards control and creativity that leads them to outperform their opponents on expected goals (xG). Against Red Bull Salzburg alone, they registered an xG of 1.78 while limiting their opponents to just 0.95-a clear statement of intent.
Cremonese is conversely caught in a spiral of mediocrity despite occasionally showing flashes of promise-in particular from players like Federico Bonazzoli who scored four times this season but finds himself needing more support from his teammates. They lack consistent pressure upfront with only three total wins to show for their efforts thus far.
Here's where it gets interesting: Bologna's defensive stability appears stronger than ever thanks to consistent performances from Lucumí and Miranda-each maintaining pass accuracies above 79%, alongside crucial tackles and interceptions that quell opposing advances before they materialize into scoring opportunities. In stark contrast lies Cremonese's shaky backline; recent games reveal a tendency towards fouls and yellow cards which not only disrupt rhythm but invite unnecessary pressure.
Both teams' styles set the stage for critical tactical battles come Saturday afternoon. If Bologna can exploit the space behind Cremonese's wing-backs while keeping Vardy at bay (his presence alone demands attention), we might see an expansive display filled with flair-as we've seen over the last month from them in attacking transitions.
Head-to-head data adds another layer worth mentioning here: over their last six encounters since promotion back to Serie A in previous seasons shows Bologna winning four while Cremonese has managed two draws but no victories-painting a picture of dominance that may weigh heavily on both sides' mentalities heading into this contest.
So what does all this mean? Well, let's paint you the complete picture: I fully expect Bologna to extend their fine run and capitalize on both form advantage and home-ground familiarity here while pushing further toward European qualification spots post-game-they've established themselves as genuine contenders when playing against teams below them on the table.
Expect an exhilarating display come Saturday as Bologna brushes aside Carnivale connoisseurs visiting from Cremona; I'll put my chips firmly down-it'll be Bologna coming away victorious once again with potentially multiple scorers flashing across the scoreboard! It's time for some serious goal-scoring fireworks!