Serie A | Cremonese 2-0 Lecce: Sanabria ends 14-month drought

Cremonese are into the top half of the Serie A table thanks to a solid second-half performance during their 2-0 victory over Lecce on Sunday afternoon with goals from Federico Bonazzoli and, finally, from Antonio Sanabria.

Head coaches Davide Nicola and Eusebio Di Francesco made just one change between them after their respective wins against Bologna and Torino last weekend: Romano Floriani Mussolini replaced Giuseppe Pezzella at left wing-back for Cremonese, while Lecce went with an entirely unchanged team. 

Click here to read more about how today’s teams lined up.

The visitors came up with the closest goalscoring opportunity of the first half after just two minutes. Medon Brisha supplied a wicked low cross in off the right flank, but Nikola Stulic did not react quickly enough and managed to clear the crossbar from five yards out. 

Berisha had a chance of his own midway through the first period, stinging the palms of Emil Audero with a bouncing half-volley within the area: The shot was straight at the stopper despite its power, though. 

Cremonese came out firing after the interval and were rewarded almost immediately. Jari Vandeputte tried to nick possession right on the edge of the area but took a tumble and sparked immediate penalty appeals from his teammates. 

Waved away in the 48th minute, the decision was later referred to VAR and it took until the 52nd for the spot-kick to be awarded. Bonazzoli stepped up and found the bottom-right corner of the net, squeezing past Falcone, who dived the right way. 

La Cremo doubled their advantage and put the three points within touching distance in the 78th minute: Jamie Vardy laid off to Alessio Zerbin on the touchline, who crossed in for Sanabria to head home on the edge of the six-yard box. The Paraguayan had not scored in Serie A for 14 months, dating back to a 3-2 loss for Torino against Cagliari in October 2024. 

There are still several games left to play before the 14th round of Serie A fixtures draws to a close, but as things stand, the newly-promoted Cremonese are currently up to an impressive ninth place in the standings with 20 points after 14 matches. Lecce are seven points behind them in 14th. 

Cremonese 2-0 Lecce

Bonazzoli pen 53 (C), Sanabria 78 (C)