The Apulians win away and move away from the hot spot of the standings. For Ballardini’s team the situation is increasingly grim
February 4 – Cremona
The cupping effect didn’t bring any benefits, but it did cause tiredness. Cremonese surrenders (0-2) to Lecce and, after having dreamed of reaching the splendid semi-final of the Italian Cup with the exploits of Naples and Rome, sees its position in the league increasingly dangerous. Also because this defeat hurts a lot, because it was suffered against a direct competitor. Lecce essentially pulls itself out of trouble where it would have risked ending up losing the third in a row after the setbacks against Verona and Salernitana. To give her joy are the usual heroes: Federico Baschirotto and Gabriel Strefezza who have played with it here in Cremona without leaving a particular trace. Even if the Veronese defender was promising in the Spring. But what will give coach Marco Baroni the most pleasure is having kept a clean sheet. It is the sign that the team has been decidedly attentive after the amnesia of the previous two games. Another story began for Cremo, but only eight points, now they are very few.
Environment
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The day is beautiful. The fans of the Curva Sud of Cremo stand outside in protest, but above all in solidarity with the supporters of Salento (and all residents of Puglia) who have been prevented from reaching Cremona by the police station. The same fate befell those from Bari who would go to Ferrara. Better to avoid clashes… In the grandstand are sporting directors Carlo Osti and Nereo Bonato from Cagliari, who are at home in these parts.
THE MATCH
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Play. Ballardini has to give up Okereke in extremis who had a muscle problem on Friday. So the attacking duo is formed by the veteran and captain Daniel Ciofani and the slippery Dessers. In defence, compared to the match against Inter, Ferrari plays on the right in place of Bianchetti, Pickel returns in the middle. Baroni’s Lecce returns to standard training with all the men positioned in the bands of competence. In the 4th minute the first scream came from Gonzalez, but because he took a slap in the face from Pickel. There is no supremacy, the Salento players play man on man with Baschirotto and Umtiti guarding Ciofani and Dessers. Gendrey strikes up a good duel with Valeri often coming out the winner. Cremo’s game is a little slow because Meitè is slow and Hjulmand is always ready to “bite” him and Blin and Gonzalez, next to him, double up to steal the ball. This allows Baroni’s team to restart and look for Colombo who, however, hits well only once in the first minute on 7′. Cremonese comes out better at half time, a beautiful sprint from Sernicola, who runs the whole field, finds Lecce’s defense attentive, a header from Ciofani is easy for Falcone. In the 39th minute, Lecce lost Blin who came out badly from a tackle: Askildsen replaced him. In the 45th minute the guests complained of a contact in the area between Vasquez and Strefezza, but for the very attentive Orsato it was only a corner. Two minutes of added time, plus another two that only serve for Pickel to naively get booked.
SECOND HALF
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In fact, the recovery begins without him. Ballardini leaves him in the locker room not only because he has given little, but because by inserting Castagnetti in the center, he moves Meitè as a midfielder where he can make better use of his good foot. Cremonese starts strong with Vasquez who does better in attack…. misses two, Baschirotto and Gendrey and his cross shot goes very close. But then it is Lecce who take the field, who move better. Columbus varies all over the place. It is good. Gallo then fishes him perfectly in the center and the header goes just wide. But the whites are now masters and in the 13th minute Hjulmand, always placed on the same right-hand tile, kicks with the rev counter for the insertion of Baschirotto who with strength, power and of course a header gives Lecce the advantage. Third goal for the defender who was in the Grigiorossa Spring. The hosts’ only jolt was a great right foot from Sernicola which Falcone controlled for a corner. But in the 24th minute Meitè combines it very big: he loses the ball in the middle of the field, steals it cleverly from him Strefezza who starts and signs in addition to doubling his seventh personal goal in the league. He ends there in the 24th minute. Ballardini also inserts Tsadjout by switching to a 3-4-1-2, Baschirotto exalts himself on every rebound. Cremo no longer has strength and energy. And the curve takes it out on the ds Giachetta.
February 4, 2023 (change February 4, 2023 | 18:52)
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