Cremonese and Torino Share Stalemate in Relegation Six-Pointer
Baschirotto's disallowed goal headlines goalless draw at Stadio Giovanni Zini
Cremonese and Torino played out a frustrating goalless draw on Sunday afternoon at Stadio Giovanni Zini, a result that does little to ease either side's Serie A concerns. The hosts dominated possession with 65% of the ball but couldn't find the breakthrough against a disciplined Torino defense.
The match's defining moment came in the 64th minute when Federico Baschirotto thought he had given Cremonese the lead, only to see his effort ruled out by the officials. The disallowed goal summed up a day of missed opportunities for the home side, who registered 14 shots to Torino's four but managed just four on target.
Cremonese controlled the tempo from the outset, completing 415 of their 493 passes at an impressive 84% accuracy rate. However, their dominance in possession didn't translate into clear-cut chances, with an expected goals tally of just 0.64 highlighting their struggles in the final third.
Torino's game plan was clear from early on: stay compact, frustrate the hosts, and look for opportunities on the counter. With just 35% possession, they rarely threatened Emilio Audero's goal, managing only one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes. Their defensive discipline was evident in goalkeeper saves, with four stops keeping Cremonese at bay.
The second half saw both managers make tactical adjustments. Cremonese boss brought on fresh legs in the 60th minute, substituting Jari Vandeputte, while Torino responded eight minutes later by introducing Giovanni Simeone and withdrawing Guillermo Maripán. The changes failed to break the deadlock, with the match becoming increasingly tetchy as yellow cards were brandished for Saúl Coco, Enzo Ebosse, and Alieu Njie in the closing stages.
From a SAM ratings perspective, Torino's Saúl Coco (9.1) continues to justify his status as one of Serie A's most underrated defenders, marshalling his backline expertly despite picking up a booking. Cremonese's standout performer Filippo Terracciano (9.0) provided attacking thrust from right-back, while Emilio Audero (8.9) remained solid between the posts.
This stalemate leaves Cremonese still in 18th place with 28 points, desperately needing wins in their remaining fixtures to avoid relegation. Torino sit more comfortably in 13th on 40 points, but with their negative goal difference of -17, they'll want to secure safety sooner rather than later.
Both teams will feel this was two points dropped rather than one gained in their respective battles to remain in Italy's top flight next season.