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Season 2025-26

Game 16, Serie A

Saturday, December 20, 2025

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Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Cremonese 0-0

A very boring goalless draw for Lazio even though there is room for recrimination as two blatant penalties are ignored

Source Lazio Wiki

The team

Maurizio Sarri had to make do without Mattia Zaccagni and Toma Basic sent off in dubious circumstances the previous match against Parma as well as Nicolò Rovella and Gustav Isaksen injured plus Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Boulaye Dia participating in the AFC. As a consequence, the eleven to send in were, with a few exceptions, practically the only ones left.

First half

Nothing to report for the first 45 minutes. Lazio completely null, no ideas on how to break down the Cremonese defensive wall, players too static and too slow.

Second half

In the beginning of the second half there was the first controversial decision from the referee. In the 48th minute cross from the right by Adam Marusic, Taty Castellanos went for the ball but was fouled by Filippo Terracciano. There was not a lot in it but we have seen penalties given for a lot less.

The Biancocelesti had a chance in the 50th minute on a Castellanos header off a Danilo Cataldi corner but it was too central. Two minutes later the biggest opportunity of the match and it was Cremonese’s. Federico Bonazzoli had the time to decide where to put the cross and he did so beautifully for Jaime Vardy who all alone on the far post headed the ball over the crossbar.

In the 71st minute the most controversial of the episodes. Marusic again crossed from the right towards Tijani Noslin (who had come in for Pedro in the 64th minute). Terracciano clearly held on to Noslin’s jersey as the Dutchman went for the header and might have even touched the ball with his hand. Referee closed both eyes and VAR decided there was no foul. Again, we have seen penalties given for a lot less.

Apart from a few shots at goal from both sides, none of which particularly dangerous, the final episode came right at the end. Matteo Guedouzi on the right went off on the counter attack, just as his hair was being pulled by Giuseppe Pezzella he managed to pass centrally to Matteo Cancellieri who was fouled by Federico Ceccherini just a few centimetres from the penalty box. Ceccherini was sent off (and Pezzella should have been). Cataldi took the free kick which shaved the crossbar.

The game ended goalless. Lazio were pretty poor but can recriminate about the refereeing.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (82' Lazzari), Guendouzi, Cataldi, Vecino (64' Belahyane), Cancellieri, Castellanos, Pedro (64' Noslin) Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Provstgaard, Patric, Nuno Tavares, Farcomeni, Sana Fernandes Manager: Sarri

Who played for Cremonese

Audero, Terracciano, Baschirotto, Folino (69' Ceccherini), Barbieri (88' Floriani Mussolini), Bondo, Grassi (69' Vandeputte), Johnsen (76' Zerbin), Pezzella, Bonazzoli (76' Sanabria), Vardy

Substitutes: Silvestri, Nava, Valoti, Moumbanga, Sarmiento, Vazquez, Faye, Lordkipanidze Manager: Nicola

Referee: Pairetto

Booked: Pedro (L), Grassi (C), Barbieri (C), Romagnoli (L), Guendouzi (L), Pezzella (C), Gila (L)

Red card: Ceccherini (C)