Rasmus Højlund delivered a clinical first-half brace to propel Napoli to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cremonese on December 28, dismantling the hosts with ruthless efficiency at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.
The Danish striker opened the scoring in the 13th minute before doubling his advantage on the stroke of halftime, earning a man-of-the-match rating of 9.2 with his two goals and three key passes. Scott McTominay provided the creative spark with an assist and two key passes of his own, orchestrating Napoli’s attacking dominance throughout.
The visitors controlled proceedings from start to finish, registering 22 shots compared to Cremonese’s meager six while enjoying a slight possession advantage at 52.5%. Napoli’s attacking intent was evident in their 10 corner kicks, pinning the home side deep into their own half for extended periods.
Only Emil Audero prevented a more embarrassing scoreline for Cremonese. The goalkeeper produced a heroic performance with six saves, earning an 8.2 rating as he repeatedly denied Napoli’s relentless assault. Tommaso Barbieri worked tirelessly in midfield before his 60th-minute substitution, while Giuseppe Pezzella provided steady support.
Discipline became an issue for both sides, with Napoli’s Juan Jesus and McTominay collecting yellow cards in the first half, the latter booked immediately after Højlund’s second goal. Cremonese’s Barbieri and Federico Bonazzoli also found their way into the referee’s book.
Vanja Milinković-Savić had little to do in Napoli’s goal, making just two saves as the backline—marshaled by Amir Rrahmani and Giovanni Di Lorenzo—remained largely untroubled. Stanislav Lobotka and Matteo Politano contributed to a comprehensive midfield performance that never allowed Cremonese to gain momentum.
The victory extends Napoli’s strong form, while Cremonese’s struggles continue despite Audero’s valiant efforts between the posts.
