Udinese vs Cremonese - Serie A

The history between Udinese and Cremonese lends this Serie A fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on May 17, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Form and standings can only tell part of the story when Udinese and Cremonese cross paths in the Serie A, and pride alone should guarantee a contest. Consistency has eluded Udinese in recent weeks, with DDLL in their last five and a win rate of 25% that tells of an up-and-down campaign. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. But the Reds are still unsure about Bologna's asking price for the defender, who turned 28 in June and has less than 12 months to run on his contract at the Serie A side.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Udinese will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Cremonese will back themselves to cause problems on the break. In possession, Silva has the confidence to play forwards rather than simply recycling possession.

In fixtures as finely poised as this one, it often comes down to who holds their nerve in the big moments — and both camps have players who relish that responsibility. The wide areas will be a key battleground, with full-backs and wingers on either side capable of swinging the contest one way or the other. Caught Offside report that the Galatasaray forward is being monitored by United, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Serie A standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. The 22-year-old was likely quite high up on the list of United's midfield targets and potentially even higher after Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga blows.