Cremonese vs Udinese Prediction: Booking for Baschirotto

Cremonese suffered their first Serie A defeat of the season just before the October international break, losing 4-1 at Inter Milan, and after starting with back-to-back victories, are now four games without a win. On Monday (19:45 BST, live via Betfred.com), the Grigiorossi host Udinese, who themselves began the campaign strongly but have taken just a single point from the last nine on offer.

Below are my Cremonese vs Udinese predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this meeting at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

Team News

Michele Collocolo and Faris Moumbagna (both thigh) are still sidelined for Cremonese, but Emil Audero (calf) and Filippo Terracciano (muscle) are back in training, so they could be involved on Monday.

Cremonese head coach Davide Nicola may be pondering whether to hand a first start to Jamie Vardy, who has made two substitute appearances since moving to the club.

Football Odds

As for Udinese, Thomas Kristensen (hamstring) misses out, but fit-again striker Adam Buksa is available, as is fellow forward Iker Bravo, who was representing Spain at the U20 World Cup.

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is also back after serving a suspension for illegal betting.

Cremonese vs Udinese Odds

Cremo are unbeaten on home soil this season, beating Sassuolo 3-2 in August and drawing 0-0 with Parma in September. Monday's hosts are 2/1, or a 33.3% chance, to triumph against Udinese, who are 6/4 favourites, implying a 40% probability of success.

Four of the five meetings between these sides have ended in a draw, and you can back another stalemate here at 21/10.

Player to Receive a Card - Federico Baschirotto (CRE) @ 9/2

I like this look of this as a value pick.

Cremo centre-back Federico Baschirotto plays the most central of the three defenders and has already been booked this season, in his side's 1-1 draw at Como on September 29.

He's committed four fouls across his last three appearances, and on Monday, he is likely to be man-marking Udinese striker Keinan Davis, who is averaging 2.3 fouls won per game.

Today's Football Fixtures

The former Aston Villa man has won 3+ fouls in three separate matches, and 4+ in two, including last time out as Udinese were held 1-1 at home by Cagliari.

The 27-year-old is a big, powerful unit who is terrific at holding the ball up and winning free-kicks.

Pisa's Antonio Caracciolo, who, like Baschirotto, plays in the middle of a three-man defence, was issued with a yellow card in the 13th minute of his side's 1-0 home defeat to Udinese on September 14 for an offence against Davis.

Baschirotto could encounter similar problems against the Englishman, so I'm backing him to go into the referee's notebook on Monday.

Both Teams To Score - Yes @ 10/11

Udinese have scored in all but one of their six league games this season, and in both of their Coppa Italia ties.

Cremo, meanwhile, have blanked twice in Serie A, as well as in their sole Coppa Italia tie, but in their other four league matches, they have scored, netting seven times across them, including three in a 3-2 home victory over Sassuolo.

A goal apiece away to Como and Inter should have restored some confidence following back-to-back goalless draws, and with Vardy potentially leading the line, there should be even more tenacity and goal threat at the point of their attack.

Udinese have scored in their last two games, and in all three away matches, so I'm happy to back both teams to find the net on Monday.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down