On a brisk December afternoon at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, Napoli showcased their Serie A pedigree, dispatching Cremonese 2-0 in a match that combined tactical discipline, attacking flair, and a touch of drama. With this result, Napoli cemented their place in the league's upper echelon, moving to third with 34 points, while Cremonese remained 12th on 21 points after 17 rounds.
Antonio Conte's men entered the clash riding high on confidence after their Supercoppa Italiana triumph in Riyadh just six days prior, a victory that seemed to inject new life into the squad following a narrow league defeat to Udinese. Despite a mounting injury crisis — with key figures like Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour, Kevin De Bruyne, and Alex Meret sidelined, and Romelu Lukaku, Sam Beukema, and Mathias Olivera also unavailable — Napoli stuck to the winning formula. Conte fielded the same 3-4-2-1 formation that had delivered silverware, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo anchoring the defense and Rasmus Hojlund leading the line.
Cremonese, under Davide Nicola, have been one of the season's surprise packages, comfortably mid-table after promotion and boasting wins over heavyweights like Milan, Sassuolo, and Bologna. The home side, however, faced their own selection headaches: Federico Ceccherini was suspended, Michele Collocolo absent, and Jari Vandeputte recovering from flu. Yet, with Matteo Bianchetti fit again and Jamie Vardy eager to add to his four goals in the previous nine games, optimism was in the air.
The match kicked off at 15:00 CET in front of a lively crowd, with both teams eager to stamp their authority early. Napoli’s attacking trio of Hojlund, David Neres, and Eljif Elmas wasted no time. In the 13th minute, Hojlund capitalized on a flowing move, unleashing a powerful right-footed shot to put the visitors ahead. It was a goal that highlighted both his growing confidence and Napoli’s sharpness in transition — a trait Conte has been quick to nurture since his arrival.
Cremonese, unfazed by the early setback, responded with energy. Martin Payero and Tommaso Barbieri both tested Napoli’s defense, while Vardy’s movement kept the visitors on their toes. Napoli’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic was called into action, making a crucial save to deny Bianchetti’s header following a well-delivered free kick by Giuseppe Pezzella.
Napoli’s midfield, orchestrated by Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay, dictated the tempo, recycling possession with precision. According to Serie A stats, Napoli completed 84.2% of their 463 passes, a testament to their composure under pressure. Cremonese, meanwhile, managed 410 passes at 79.8% accuracy, often forced into hurried clearances by Napoli’s relentless pressing.
As halftime approached, Napoli doubled their lead. In the 45th minute, Matteo Politano whipped in a dangerous cross, which, after a scramble, fell kindly to Hojlund. The Danish striker made no mistake, tapping in his second of the afternoon and giving the visitors a comfortable 2-0 cushion going into the break.
The hosts, desperate to claw their way back, made several tactical changes in the second half. Nicola introduced Romano Floriani Mussolini for Bianchetti and later brought on Federico Bonazzoli and Warren Bondo to inject fresh legs into the attack. Bonazzoli, Cremonese’s top scorer with five goals in 15 games this season, was lively but found little joy against Napoli’s well-drilled back three.
Napoli, for their part, continued to push for a third. Politano, before being forced off with an injury late in the game, came close with a powerful drive that was well saved. Substitute Pasquale Mazzocchi nearly capped off the night with a spectacular long-range effort in stoppage time, but his shot sailed over the bar after a crisp pass from Di Lorenzo.
The final whistle blew with Napoli having registered 22 shots to Cremonese’s 6, and 10 corners to the hosts’ solitary effort. Defensively, Napoli were resolute, with Milinkovic-Savic making key interventions and the backline — Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, and Juan Jesus — snuffing out danger. The midfield duo of Lobotka and McTominay combined grit with guile, ensuring Cremonese rarely found space between the lines.
Conte’s satisfaction was evident in his post-match comments: “I’m very happy with this victory because we were extremely focused. We stayed focused and attentive in both matches, and I think we deserved to win. First against Milan and then against Bologna, we put in two great performances, creating a lot of goals and even having the potential to score more.”
For Cremonese, Nicola struck a philosophical note ahead of the match, emphasizing the challenge and opportunity: "A fantastic opportunity to test everything we've worked on so far, because they know how to do many things, and all of them very well. Their defensive phase is very well-drilled, precise, and of high quality in terms of spirit and effectiveness. With the ball, they combine enormous individual talent with organization and the humility to manage the game's flow. Their Scudetto victory proves it, as do their matches this year. Facing them is a source of satisfaction and a challenge; we want to do it with the support of our fans, both in the challenges and with every ball recovered."
Statistically, the match underscored Napoli’s standing as one of Serie A’s most balanced teams. With a +9 goal differential and a shot differential of +2.8 per game, they rank among the league’s elite in both offensive and defensive metrics. Their pass completion rate of 91.3% (fourth in the league) reflects a team comfortable in possession, while their ability to create 31 touches inside the opposition box demonstrated attacking intent throughout.
Cremonese, despite the defeat, can take positives from their campaign so far. Sitting mid-table after promotion, with notable scalps and a competitive spirit, they remain a tough proposition for any opponent. Jari Vandeputte’s creativity (23 chances created, four assists) and Vardy’s experience continue to offer hope for the remainder of the season.
As the Serie A calendar turns to 2026, Napoli’s victory at Cremonese sends a clear message: despite injuries and a packed schedule, Conte’s men remain firmly in the hunt for honors, their blend of youth, experience, and tactical discipline making them a team to watch in the months ahead. For Cremonese, it’s back to the drawing board, but their journey in Italy’s top flight is far from over, with plenty of opportunities to spring more surprises as the campaign unfolds.
