Cremonese Faces Impossible Mission to Stop Inter Milan

CREMONA, SATURDAY – The last two months have been flawless for Inter Milan. Since December 2025, Inter has played nine matches in the Italian League without a blemish. The best performance was recorded by "I Nerazzurri" with a record of nine wins and one draw. This has made Inter increasingly untouchable at the top of the standings.

The positive trend is intended to be maintained as we enter the new month of February. Unlike the two months that have passed, February looms over Inter with an extremely busy period. During the 28 days of the "month of love," Inter is set to face seven matches from three different competitions.

Four Serie A matches are on the cards, followed by a Coppa Italia quarterfinal against Torino, and two Champions League round-of-16 playoff matches against Bodo/Glimt. This series of matches will test the consistency and depth of Inter's squad, which is considered to have the best team in Italy at the moment.

The beginning of February will see Lautaro Martinez and his teammates facing Cremonese at the Giovanni Zini Stadium on Monday (2/2/2026) at 00:00 WIB. On paper, Inter should have no difficulty bringing home three points.

In the first match of the season, Inter decisively defeated the promoted team with a score of 4-1 at the San Siro Stadium. On the other hand, top teams in Serie A this season, such as AS Roma, Napoli, and Juventus, also managed to conquer Cremonese at Giovanni Zini.

I am fully focused on the idea of facing Cremonese on Sunday (Monday WIB). For me, this is the most important match of the season.

Despite a strong performance in the last two months, Inter is overshadowed by physical and mental fatigue that could hinder their best display against Cremonese. They are coming off a trip from Borussia Dortmund's home in the Champions League, Thursday (29/1/2026).

The final match of the group stage of the European club competition required the Inter squad to exert significant energy for over 90 minutes to secure a 2-0 victory.

It is not surprising that Inter's coach Cristian Chivu described the match against Cremonese as the most important moment for his team's journey this season. Amid a minimal break period, Chivu stated that his players are preparing themselves as best as possible to continue the winning trend in the 23rd week of Serie A.

"In the past two months, we have grown remarkably and reaped results that enhance our confidence and self-belief," said Chivu as reported on the club's website, Saturday (31/1/2026).

"I am fully focused on the idea of facing Cremonese on Sunday (Monday WIB). For me, this is the most important match of the season. Every match is always important for us, so we need to rest and prepare ourselves well," he continued.

Chivu's ambition aligns with the determination of all Inter players. They aim to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the table over nearest rivals AC Milan.

Federico Dimarco, the left-wing back of Inter, described the formula for Inter's performance that is difficult for other teams in Serie A to counter. He stated that all players strive to continuously evaluate themselves in order to perform better in every match.

"Winning makes us more confident and makes us better. Of course, the happier we are playing, the stronger our chances of continuing in the right direction," said Dimarco, Serie A's top assist provider with seven goals, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Inter has already demonstrated dominance over Cremonese for 33 years. During this period, Inter has managed to defeat Cremonese in eight encounters and has only been held to a draw once in the 1994-1995 season.

In the history of encounters between the two teams in Serie A, Cremonese has only recorded one victory over I Nerazzurri. That moment occurred in the 1991-1992 season. Cremonese won 2-0 with a brace or double goal contribution from their Argentine legend, Gustavo Dezotti.

In order to maintain a positive record against Cremonese, Chivu hopes to witness the hard work of his players once again. According to the Romanian tactician, the players are the main reason why Inter has been able to perform consistently in the league.

"They always work hard to please me by understanding my requests. Our performance is the result of the players' efforts. If there are mistakes, then it is my responsibility as their coach," said Chivu.

Meanwhile, Cremonese has been waiting for a victory for almost two months. The last three points were secured by Emil Audero and his teammates when they defeated Lecce on December 7.

After that, Cremonese went eight games without a win, picking up only three points during that period.

Inevitably, they have fallen out of the top 10 zone that they had occupied in the first half of the season. Cremonese is only four places above and six points ahead of the relegation zone.

That poor performance is attributed to the ineffectiveness of the attack. In those eight matches, Cremonese was only able to score in one match, sharing points with Cagliari with a final score of 2-2.

This has led Cremonese Coach Davide Nicola to enhance his attacking options by recruiting veteran striker Milan Djuric from Parma. The 35-year-old striker returns to Cremona after 13 years.

"Age is no longer an issue in this era because paying attention to every detail and nutrition helps us play longer. I will repay the team's trust. The most important thing is that we work hard, perform calmly, and not think too much about anything outside of the match," said Djuric as reported on the club's website.

Nicola emphasized to his players not to give up. He believes the Cremonese squad will come together to overcome these difficult times.

"We must accept this difficult situation and approach the upcoming matches with full enthusiasm. I am confident that with dedication and unity, we can achieve our goals," said Nicola. (AP)