Cremonese - Udinese 0-0
After their nine-game unbeaten league run was ended by Torino last weekend, Udinese had the perfect opportunity to bounce back against a Cremonese side who were propping up the SA table. Gerard Deulofeu went close to getting his team off to an ideal start, but the Udinese talisman was unable to find a way past Marco Carnesecchi. The visitors continued to enjoy the majority of possession, but clear-cut chances were proving hard to come by as Cremonese worked hard to keep their opponents at bay. At the other end of the pitch, David Okereke mustered his side’s only shot on target of the opening 45 minutes, sending a rather tame header into the clutches of Marco Silvestri.
Buoyed on by the vociferous home support, the Grigiorossi started the second half on the front as Cristian Buonaiuto forced Silvestri into action. The Udinese goalkeeper reacted well to tip Buonaiuto’s ambitious long-range effort around the post. While Silversti ensured the contest remained goalless, his teammates began to probe at the Cremonese backline that started the day with their worst defensive record in SA.
Although the visitors were finding it difficult to threaten Carnesecchi’s goal, they would have been looking to draw inspiration from the fact that eight of their 20 league goals this season had been scored in the final 15 minutes. Lazar Samardžić threatened to be Udinese’s hero, but his low shot was comfortably stopped by Carnesecchi, ensuring that on this occasion, there was to be no late goal for Andrea Sottil’s side.
Despite collecting their second home point of the season, Cremonese end the weekend three points adrift from safety, while Udinese remain in eighth place after drawing three of their last four SA games.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Emanuel Aiwu (US Cremonese))
See stats from the match at Flashscore
Spezia - Fiorentina 1-2
Chasing a first-ever victory over Fiorentina in Serie A, Spezia’s gameplan was thrown out of the window almost immediately when Nikola Milenković netted an early goal for the visitors. Glancing home a header from Cristiano Biraghi’s near-post cross, it was just the third time in Fiorentina’s last six away games they’d found the net.
One of just two sides in Europe’s big five leagues to have earned 100% of their points this season from home, Spezia have turned the Stadio Alberto Picco into somewhat of a fortress of late. Calling on the typically boisterous home support for encouragement, the hosts were able to draw level just before the break, with M'Bala Nzola squeezing a first-time effort beyond goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano, taking his tally to five goals for the season.
Having dominated the first period, Spezia’s attacking endeavours were nullified throughout the second half. Instead, with 10 minutes left to play, their attention switched to preserving a point, following Dimitris Nikolaou’s straight red card. Flying high into the leg of Fiorentina’s Cabral, the Spezia defender had originally evaded punishment from referee Davide Massa, but a VAR check suggested Nikolaou walk for the challenge.
Ultimately, the red card would cost Spezia the point, as Cabral’s last-minute effort snatched victory for the visitors. On balance, the home side have reason to feel aggrieved, having been the better side for much of the contest. It matters for little now, as the defeat brings Spezia’s unbeaten start at the Alberto Picco to a disappointing end.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Arthur Cabral (ACF Fiorentina)