Second victory for Nicola’s team, guests knocked out after Stulic and Berisha wasted their chances

Heart, head, and ferocity to turn around a day that started with bad thoughts. Cremonese continues to climb: 20 points and eighth place alongside Sassuolo, the other formidable newcomer. A penalty from Bonazzoli and a flash of brilliance from Sanabria punish a Lecce side that was brilliant in the first half but then, for some reason, disappeared from the pitch. The Apulians’ position in the table is certainly not dramatic, but the defeat does not inspire optimism. Zini, on the other hand, is celebrating: after the exploit in Bologna, here comes the victory of awareness.
The match Among the Grigiorossi, Floriani is on the left wing in place of the feverish Pezzella. He will be one of the liveliest in a forgettable first half. On the other side, Berisha acts behind the attacking trident, and so there are four players pressing Cremonese’s first pass. The result: loads of balls recovered and possession always in the hands of the visitors, who could have broken the deadlock early on if Stulic hadn’t missed a sitter: a flat shot over an open goal. Thrilling. Then Berisha also tried his luck (saved by Audero), the brains of a robust and proactive Lecce. And Cremo? Too many players were off form and lacking ideas, starting with a midfield that couldn’t string two passes together. The draw at halftime was too generous for the worst version of the Grigiorossi this season. Di Francesco brought on Sottil for the booked and lackluster Banda, but it was Ramadani who made the mistake at the start of the second half. His intervention on Vandeputte’s foot was naive and untimely. The problem for Lecce is that the contact is in the area. After a long VAR review, Mucera awards a penalty, which Bonazzoli coolly converts. Cremonese comes back to life, showing its superior quality: it gains ground and confidence, especially with the introduction of Zerbin and Sanabria, while the visitors become a pale imitation of the attacking team of the first half. And they fall again. The knockout blow came from Vardy, who recovered the ball and served Zerbin: the cross was clean and precise for Sanabria’s head. His first goal in the league. And Cremonese flew ahead.