Cremonese vs Sampdoria Prediction & Betting Tips (17 August)

Cremonese and Sampdoria will face off in the Coppa Italia 2026/2027 Round of 64 on Monday, August 17, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 CET. In a notable development for this season's campaign, the match has been moved from Cremonese's traditional Stadio Giovanni Zini to the Stadio Marco Druso in Bolzano, adding a unique neutral-venue dynamic to this first-round cup tie. Both clubs are entering the competition fresh from their pre-season preparations and will be eager to advance in Italy's premier knockout tournament.

Looking at recent form, Cremonese comes into this fixture on the back of a challenging end to their previous league campaign. They suffered a heavy 1-4 defeat at home to Como in their final Serie A match, though they did manage to secure a narrow 0-1 victory away at Udinese just a week prior, with Jamie Vardy scoring the decisive goal. Earlier in May, they also produced a convincing 3-0 home win against Pisa. Sampdoria, meanwhile, will be looking to put their recent Serie B struggles behind them, having last played a competitive match in February where they fell to a 0-2 home defeat against Bari.

For the 2026/2027 season, both squads have seen adjustments during the summer transfer window as they prepare for their respective league campaigns. Cremonese is expected to rely on experienced figures such as Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzoli in attack, while Sampdoria continues to rebuild under their current management. European bookmakers have priced this encounter competitively, with Cremonese listed as favorites at around 1.95, the draw available at approximately 3.35, and a Sampdoria victory offered at roughly 4.10. The odds reflect Cremonese's status as the home side despite the venue change, while Sampdoria's longer odds acknowledge their recent lower-league status.

Given the contrasting trajectories of these two sides and the neutral venue factor, this Coppa Italia opener is expected to be a tightly contested affair. Cremonese holds the advantage in terms of squad depth and recent top-flight experience, which should see them control possession and create the better chances. Our prediction for this match is a 1-0 victory for Cremonese, a result that would see them advance to the next round while keeping things defensively solid in what is likely to be a cagey cup encoun