Predictions Serie B - Catanzaro vs Cremonese on 22 May 2024

Serie B - Catanzaro vs Cremonese
Match Time: 22-05-2024 02:30 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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After finishing fifth at the end of a 38-game Serie B season, Catanzaro claimed home advantage for the first stage of the elaborate playoff series that selects who will join the top two in Italy's top tier.

However, the Calabrian club trailed 2-1 to Brescia in stoppage time and seemed set for a heartbreaking exit, before Alfredo Donnarumma forced home a header and sent Saturday's game into extra time.

If the scores were still tied after 120 minutes, Catanzaro would have progressed, having finished higher up the Serie B standings, but they nonetheless struck twice more, capped by Pietro Iemmello completing his brace late on.

Vincenzo Vivarini's side are now set for the semi-finals, which are played over two legs, with the overall winner following automatically-promoted Parma and Como into Serie A.

Having only earned promotion from the third tier 12 months ago, the Giallorossi were not expected to contend for such a prize, but they now find themselves within sight of the playoff final.

They have, however, won only one of their last six matches heading into Tuesday's first leg.

When Cremonese most recently met Catanzaro, the pair played out a 0-0 draw last month - the same result as in August's reverse fixture, which took place on the opening day of the season.

The sides must be split on this occasion, though, and after finishing seven points clear of their opponents in the Serie B standings, Cremo coach Giovanni Stroppa will expect his team to reach the final.

One year after suffering relegation from the top flight, the Grigiorossi finished fourth, only six points shy of claiming a precious top-two place.

For that reason, they have been able to rest since beating Cittadella 3-0 on the league's final day, finishing with two wins and a draw from their last three fixtures.

Cremonese can be considered favourites to progress, particularly with Saturday's second leg being played at home in Lombardy, but there is unlikely to be complacency in the camp.

Given what is at stake, Stroppa - who has previously led Crotone and Monza to promotion - must ensure his players do not succumb to the pressure of expectation.


Prediction:  Catanzaro 1-1 Cremonese