US Lecce vs US Cremonese

Lecce claimed a crucial 2-1 win over Cremonese at the Via del Mare, delivering a hammer blow in the Serie A relegation battle. Santiago Pierotti opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a thumping header from a Gallo corner, setting the tone for a dominant first-half display. Nikola Stulic made it 2-0 from the penalty spot on 38 minutes after a handball by Matteo Bianchetti in the area. Cremonese pulled one back through Federico Bonazzoli in the 47th minute, set up by substitute Milan Djuric who had replaced the injured Jamie Vardy at half-time. The visitors pushed hard for an equaliser but goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone stood firm with vital saves, while a Payero strike was chalked off by VAR for handball. The victory lifts Lecce to 27 points, opening a three-point cushion over Cremonese on 24 — a massive result in the survival race for boss Eusebio Di Francesco, and a deepening crisis for Davide Nicola's struggling side.