Lazio and Cremonese Play Out Frustrating Stalemate in Goalless Draw
Lazio and Cremonese battled to a scoreless draw in a scrappy Serie A encounter that produced more yellow cards than genuine scoring opportunities at the Stadio Olimpico.
The match quickly devolved into a physical affair, with Pedro picking up a yellow card in the 38th minute before Cremonese’s A. Grassi joined him in the referee’s book just before halftime. Despite Lazio dominating possession with 57.4%, neither side could break the deadlock in an opening period lacking quality in the final third.
The statistics tell the story of Lazio’s frustration. The hosts managed just 0.24 xG compared to Cremonese’s 0.68, suggesting the visitors actually created the better chances despite their defensive setup. Both teams registered only two shots on target from eight and nine total attempts respectively, with goalkeepers making two saves each.
Lazio manager made tactical adjustments on 64 minutes, withdrawing M. Vecino and Pedro in search of a breakthrough. Cremonese responded with a flurry of substitutions, bringing on fresh legs for A. Grassi, F. Folino, F. Bonazzoli, and D. Johnsen between the 69th and 76th minutes.
The second half descended into further chaos as cards flew freely. T. Barbieri, A. Romagnoli, M. Guendouzi, and G. Pezzella all saw yellow, while M. Gila picked up a late booking in the 90th minute. The drama culminated with F. Ceccherini’s red card dismissal in stoppage time, capping a frustrating afternoon.
Cremonese’s defensive discipline proved effective, recording 18 clearances compared to Lazio’s 12, though they committed 21 fouls in the process. Lazio’s superior passing accuracy (90% vs 80%) and possession couldn’t unlock a stubborn Cremonese defense, leaving both sides to share the spoils in an uninspiring stalemate.
