Cremonese vs Sampdoria — Tips & Analysis

Under 2.25: Neither of these teams scores much, and that is the heart of the case. Cremonese scored under a goal a game across their last 15. Sampdoria were no better, also under a goal a game, and they let in just over a goal a game. The setting drags the goal count down too. This one is not being played in Cremona at all. The pitch there was wrecked by the August heat, so both clubs travel to Bolzano and neither gets a home crowd behind it. It is also the first competitive game of the season for both. Cremonese have gone 85 days without a match and Sampdoria 101. Cold sides in a knockout game tend to feel each other out rather than trade chances. Their history says the same. The last six meetings averaged just over 2 goals and produced three ties, including a 0-0 and two 1-1s. A 1-1 again is the likeliest finish, and a game in that range is what we want. Only the first 90 minutes count here, so extra time does not matter. There are real warnings. Both squads were rebuilt over the summer, so last season's numbers describe teams that no longer exist. Rusty legs can also mean sloppy defending and an early goal that opens things up. We still expect a tight, low-scoring night.