Cremonese Slip Closer to Relegation After Stoppage-Time Loss to Lazio

Key facts

• Cremonese lost 2-1 to Lazio at Stadio Zini on Monday.
• Federico Bonazzoli gave Cremonese the lead in the first half.
• Gustav Isaksen equalized for Lazio in the second half.
• Tijjani Noslin scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time.
• Cremonese has won only one of its last 21 league matches.
• Cremonese remains third from bottom, four points adrift of 17th-placed Lecce.
• Lazio moved into eighth place, two points above Bologna and Sassuolo.
• Jamie Vardy returned from injury as a substitute but did not affect the result.

A Late Blow in the Fight for Survival

Cremonese's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a severe setback on Monday as they conceded a stoppage-time winner to Lazio, losing 2-1 at Stadio Zini. The result leaves the Grigiorossi four points adrift of safety with only three matches remaining, deepening the crisis for a club that has won just one of its last 21 league outings. Having taken the lead through Federico Bonazzoli in the first half, Cremonese appeared on course for a vital victory. But Lazio rallied after the break, with Gustav Isaksen levelling the score before Tijjani Noslin curled home the decisive goal two minutes into added time.

Bonazzoli's Strike Raises Brief Hope

The home side struck first when Bonazzoli's left-footed shot squirmed under Lazio goalkeeper Edoardo Motta, sending the Stadio Zini crowd into temporary celebration. It was a rare moment of attacking success for a team that has managed only four home goals in the entire 2026 calendar year and has not won at home in 2026. Bonazzoli, who has struggled for form alongside injury-hit Jamie Vardy, had not scored since early in the campaign. Vardy, returning from a muscle strain that kept him out of four games, entered as a substitute but could not alter the outcome.

Lazio's Comeback and Cup Final Focus

Lazio, who had drawn 3-3 with Udinese in their previous Serie A outing, showed resilience after falling behind. Isaksen's equaliser came midway through the second half, setting the stage for Noslin's dramatic winner. The victory lifted Maurizio Sarri's side to eighth place, two points above Bologna and Sassuolo, and kept alive their faint hopes of European qualification. The Biancocelesti have one eye on the Coppa Italia final, which they reached via a penalty shootout. Should they win the cup on home turf, they could still secure a European berth, potentially salvaging a season marked by fan unrest and financial difficulties.

Relegation Math Turns Grim for Cremonese

With three games left, Cremonese sit third from bottom, four points behind 17th-placed Lecce, who won on Friday. The Lombardy club have a game in hand but have shown no form to suggest they can close the gap, having lost 14 and drawn five of their last 20 league matches. Their home record is particularly alarming: just 13 points from a possible 48 at Stadio Zini, and no win in 2026. Coach Marco Giampaolo, who replaced Davide Nicola after December's goalless draw with Lazio, now faces the likely prospect of an immediate return to Serie B.

Roma's Rout Highlights Contrasting Fortunes

Elsewhere in Serie A on Monday, Roma thrashed Fiorentina 4-0 to move into fifth place, one point behind Juventus, bolstering their Champions League hopes. Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, Mario Hermoso, and Niccolò Pisilli scored in a dominant display that dealt Fiorentina their first league defeat in eight games. Fiorentina remain in 16th, nine points clear of the relegation zone, needing just one more point to guarantee safety. The contrasting trajectories of Roma's surge and Cremonese's slide underscore the brutal margins of Serie A's relegation battle.

What Remains for Cremonese and Lazio

Cremonese must win all three remaining fixtures and hope Lecce falter to have any chance of survival. Their final games include two more at home, but given their inability to score or win at Stadio Zini, the task appears insurmountable. For Lazio, the immediate focus shifts to the Coppa Italia final. A victory there would not only deliver silverware but could also secure European football for next season, providing a bright spot in an otherwise turbulent campaign. Sarri's side will aim to carry the momentum from Monday's late triumph into that showpiece event.

The bottom line

• Cremonese lost 2-1 to Lazio, remaining four points from safety with three matches left.
• Federico Bonazzoli scored Cremonese's only goal; Jamie Vardy returned from injury but made no impact.
• Gustav Isaksen and Tijjani Noslin scored for Lazio, with Noslin's winner coming in stoppage time.
• Lazio moved to eighth place, two points above Bologna and Sassuolo, with a Coppa Italia final ahead.
• Cremonese have won just one of their last 21 league matches and have not won at home in 2026.
• Roma's 4-0 win over Fiorentina boosted their top-four hopes, while Fiorentina remain nine points clear of relegation.