Few chances and plenty of tension in a goalless draw as Cremonese and Verona cancel each other out on Matchday 21.
The relegation showdown at the Stadio Zini ended without a winner or a goal, as Cremonese and Hellas Verona played out a tense 0-0 draw that ultimately suited the hosts more than the visitors. In a match defined by physical battles and tactical caution, both sides struggled to turn effort into clear-cut chances.
Verona arrived in Cremona severely depleted, with numerous absences forcing Paolo Zanetti to reshuffle his lineup. The Gialloblù still managed to look organized, fielding new signing Pol Lirola from the start—one of the standout performers on the day—and relying on Giovane to link play behind the attacking duo of Sarr and Orban. Perilli was preferred to Montipò in goal.
Cremonese responded with a Vardy–Bonazzoli partnership up front and Vandeputte tasked with providing creativity, despite coach Davide Nicola watching from the stands due to suspension. The first half was evenly contested, with neither side asserting real control. Early flashes from Ebosse and Vardy hinted at danger, but the clearest chance fell to Giovane, denied by a sharp save from Emil Audero.
The second half followed a similar script. Verona pushed higher and saw more of the ball, with Giovane emerging as the key figure in attack. However, Cremonese’s back three repeatedly caught the Brazilian offside, frustrating the visitors. Giovane thought he had broken the deadlock late on with an acrobatic finish, only for the goal to be ruled out.
Cremonese had one last scare in stoppage time, when a scramble in the box nearly gifted Verona the winner, but Terracciano cleared the danger. The final whistle confirmed a point apiece and a result that keeps both sides firmly involved in the relegation fight.
Cremonese move up to 23 points, six clear of the bottom three, while Verona remain joint-bottom with Pisa on 14 points—though they can take solace in recording their first clean sheet in nine matches.
Match Report
Cremonese 0-0 Verona
Goals:
None
Cremonese (3-5-2):
Audero; Ceccherini (Folino 73’), Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Barbieri (Floriani Mussolini 89’), Bondo, Grassi (Collocolo 89’), Vandeputte (Zerbin 81’), Terracciano; Vardy, Bonazzoli (Moumbagna 73’).
Coach: Barone (Nicola suspended)
Verona (3-4-1-2):
Perilli; Slotsager, Nelsson, Ebosse (Harroui 71’); Lirola (Oyegoke 87’), Gagliardini, Bernede, Bradaric; Giovane; Sarr (Serdar 67’), Orban.
Coach: Zanetti
Referee: Arena
Yellow cards: Bonazzoli, Vandeputte, Vardy
Red cards: None
