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. 

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. 

Bonazzoli 53’, Sanabria 78’. 

07-12-2025 11:30

MatchDay 14

Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese

Lecce

Live2 – 0

Player statistic

1st half

45+3′

Lameck Banda

2nd half

Federico Bonazzoli

53′
 
 

Antonio Sanabria(Assist: Alessio Zerbin)

78′
 
 

Cremonese

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Emil Audero
Goalkeeper

6

Federico Baschirotto
Defender

15

Matteo Bianchetti
Defender

22

Romano Floriani Mussolini
Defender

4

Tommaso Barbieri
Defender

24

Filippo Terracciano
Midfielder

27

Jari Vandeputte
Midfielder

68′

32

Martín Payero
Midfielder

38

Warren Bondo
Midfielder

68′

90

Federico Bonazzoli
Attacker

74′

10

Jamie Vardy
Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone
Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo
Defender

17

Danilo Veiga
Defender

4

Kialonda Gaspar
Defender

44

Tiago Gabriel
Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly
Midfielder

10

Medon Berisha
Midfielder

77′

20

Ylber Ramadani
Midfielder

77′

19

Lameck Banda
Attacker

46′

9

Nikola Stulic
Attacker

67′

50

Santiago Pierotti
Attacker

67′

Substitutes

69

Lapo Nava
Goalkeeper

16

Marco Silvestri
Goalkeeper

23

Federico Ceccherini
Defender

11

Dennis Johnsen
Attacker

20

Franco Vázquez
Midfielder

8

Mattia Valoti
Midfielder

19

Jeremy Sarmiento
Midfielder

14

Faris Moumbagna
Attacker

48

Dachi Lordkipanidze
Midfielder

55

Francesco Folino
Defender

33

Alberto Grassi
Midfielder

68′

7

Alessio Zerbin
Attacker

68′

99

Antonio Sanabria
Attacker

74′

93

Youssef Maleh
Midfielder

14

Thórir Jóhann Helgason
Midfielder

32

Jasper Samooja
Goalkeeper

7

Tete Morente
Attacker

3

Corrie Ndaba
Defender

21

Christ-Owen Kouassi
Defender

5

Jamil Siebert
Defender

23

Riccardo Sottil
Attacker

46′

22

Francesco Camarda
Attacker

67′

11

Konan N’Dri
Attacker

67′

77

Mohamed Kaba
Midfielder

77′

6

Álex Sala
Midfielder

77′