Serie A | Cremonese 0-0 Verona: Vardy comes closest

Cremonese and Hellas Verona had to settle for a goalless draw in the early kick-off in Serie A on Monday evening, which leaves the visitors sitting in dead last in the league table. 

Jamie Vardy and Federico Bonazzolli kept their places up front for Davide Nicola’s side, while Paolo Zanetti opted for widespread changes, including a swap of goalkeepers with Lorenzo Monitpo sent to the bench. 

Before the action got underway, a minute’s silence was impeccably observed at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in honour of the late Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso, who has died at the age of 76. 

Vardy attempted to go for the spectacular in the first half, lining up a strike from 50 yards out trying to catch Simone Perilli off his line, but saw his effort sail over the bar for a goal kick. 

A neat touch from Tommaso Barbieri saw him beat Victor Nelsson on the corner of the penalty area. It wasn’t entirely clear whether he was trying to shoot into the far corner, or provide a low ball in for Vardy sliding in at the back post, but either way, the Englishman couldn’t quite get there and the ball ran out of play. 

Down at the other end, Giovane tested Emil Audero with a fine improvised effort out of nothing, which would have nestled into the bottom corner had the goalkeeper not been alert. 

Alberto Grassi almost found the back of the net in the second half after bringing the ball under control with his chest on the edge of the penalty area, but was a couple of inches away on the wrong side of the post. 

Ultimately, there was nothing to separate the two sides at the time of the final whistle. Monday’s result puts Cremonese up to 12th place in the Serie A standings, while Verona remain rooted to the bottom on 14 points, three away from safety.