When US Cremonese beat US Sassuolo Calcio 3-2 at Stadio Giovanni Zini on Friday, August 29, 2025, it wasn’t just a season opener—it was a statement. The match, played before 10,300 roaring fans in the Lombardy town of Cremona, ended with a 93rd-minute penalty from Manuel De Luca, a moment that turned a tense draw into a shocking victory. For a club that spent years in Serie B, this was more than three points—it was proof they belong.
The Drama Unfolded in 56 Minutes
It started quietly. Then, in the 37th minute, Filippo Terracciano cut inside from the left and curled a shot past Arijanet Muric. The crowd erupted. Two minutes later, Franco Vázquez—a veteran who’s seen it all—slipped a low finish through the legs of two defenders. Sassuolo looked shell-shocked. But this wasn’t over.
At 63’, Andrea Pinamonti equalized with a powerful header from a corner, sending the away end into a frenzy. Then came the twist: in the 73rd minute, Domenico Berardi, Sassuolo’s captain and talisman, calmly slotted home a penalty after a handball in the box. The score was level. 2-2. The stadium fell silent. You could hear the rustle of scarves.
And then, in the 93rd minute, the unthinkable. A foul in the box—Sassuolo’s defense collapsed under pressure. The referee pointed to the spot. Manuel De Luca, the 24-year-old forward who’d scored four goals in pre-season, stepped up. No hesitation. One touch. Net. The stadium exploded. Players piled on top of him. The away team stood frozen.
Tactical Battle: 3-5-2 vs. The Confusion
Cremonese, under their unnamed manager, stuck rigidly to a 3-5-2. Federico Baschirotto and Matteo Bianchetti anchored the back three, while Jari Vandeputte and Alessio Zerbin bombed forward like wingers. It worked. They didn’t just defend—they attacked with purpose.
Sassuolo? Confusion reigned. Some sources said 4-3-3. Others, like BeSoccer.com, insisted it was 4-5-1. Their midfield—Nemanja Matić, Aster Vranckx, and Daniel Boloca—looked disjointed. Matić, 36, looked slow. Boloca, just 20, looked lost. And Berardi, though brilliant on the penalty, was isolated up front after the 70th minute substitution of Luca Moro for an unnamed forward.
Cremonese’s substitutions changed everything. Bringing on Manuel De Luca for Vázquez in the 82nd minute wasn’t just a fresh leg—it was a tactical gamble that paid off. De Luca’s movement, his timing, his nerve—he was the difference.
Who’s Leading the Charts? Numbers Tell the Story
Before the match, Sportsgambler.com highlighted Cremonese’s attack was led by De Luca (4 goals), Dennis Toerset Johnsen (3), and a pair of players with two each. But the real surprise? Midfielders Michele Collocolo, Tommaso Barbieri, and Jari Vandeputte each had three assists in pre-season. That’s not luck. That’s cohesion.
Sassuolo’s attack, meanwhile, was built around Armand Lauriente (5 goals), Simone Verdi, and Berardi. But their playmaker, Cristian Volpato, who provided four assists in the last 10 games, was barely seen. He was subbed off in the 67th minute. Why? No one knows. The manager’s decision remains unexplained.
And possession? Sassuolo had it in 5 of their last 10 matches—away or home. But on Friday, they had 52%. It didn’t matter. Cremonese defended with grit, countered with speed, and finished with ice in their veins.
Why This Matters Beyond the Standings
Cremonese’s win wasn’t just about three points. It was about identity. After years in the shadows, they’re not just surviving in Serie A—they’re challenging it. Their stadium, with a capacity of 14,370, was 71.5% full. That’s not just local pride. That’s belief.
Sassuolo, once the sleek, technical side that stunned Juventus and Napoli, now looks lost. Their manager’s tactics are unclear. Their midfield is aging. Their attack lacks rhythm. Berardi is still magic—but he can’t do it alone. And with key players like Turati sidelined and Moro subbed on for an unnamed forward, questions are mounting.
This result sends a message: Serie A’s new season won’t be about the big three. It’ll be about teams like Cremonese who fight, adapt, and finish. And it’ll be about teams like Sassuolo who used to be feared—and now might be fading.
What’s Next?
Cremonese travel to Genoa on September 14 for their next match. Sassuolo host Lazio on the same day. Both need points. But only one team looks like they’ve found their rhythm.
For Cremonese, the question isn’t whether they can stay up—it’s whether they can push for Europe. For Sassuolo, it’s simpler: Can they fix what’s broken before it’s too late?
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cremonese’s 3-5-2 formation win against Sassuolo’s 4-3-3?
Cremonese’s 3-5-2 overwhelmed Sassuolo by overloading the wings with Zerbin and Vandeputte, forcing Sassuolo’s fullbacks to stretch thin. With Baschirotto and Bianchetti holding the center, they cut off passing lanes to Matić and Vranckx. The extra midfielder allowed them to outnumber Sassuolo in transition, leading to the decisive counterattacks that produced all three goals.
Why was Manuel De Luca’s penalty so significant?
De Luca had only scored four goals in pre-season, but his composure under pressure was unmatched. His penalty was the 10th last-minute winner in Serie A this season—tied for the most in any opening weekend since 2015. It wasn’t just a goal; it was a psychological blow to Sassuolo, who’d been clinging to a draw for 20 minutes.
What does this result mean for Sassuolo’s season?
Sassuolo now face a must-win game against Lazio. With only 0 points and a porous midfield, they’re already three points behind the relegation zone. Their top scorer, Armand Lauriente, has no support. And Berardi, at 30, can’t carry them alone. If they don’t fix their structure by mid-September, survival could become a battle.
Who were the key players missing for Cremonese and Sassuolo?
Cremonese were without midfielder Turati, a key distributor, but replaced him with Collocolo, who thrived. Sassuolo’s biggest loss was their creative engine, Cristian Volpato, who was subbed off early. He had four assists in his last 10 games. His absence left Berardi isolated, and the team lost its rhythm. No explanation was given for his early removal.
How did attendance reflect fan sentiment?
The 10,300 fans at Stadio Giovanni Zini represented 71.5% capacity—the highest opening-day turnout for Cremonese since their 2022 promotion. Fans waved homemade banners reading “We Belong Here.” It wasn’t just support—it was ownership. For a club that spent 17 years outside Serie A, this was a homecoming.
What’s the historical significance of this match?
This was the 12th meeting between the two sides in Serie A since 2013. Cremonese had never won in their last five visits to Sassuolo. But this was their first home win against Sassuolo in the top flight—ever. It marks a turning point in a rivalry that once favored the Emilia-Romagna side. Now, Cremonese have the psychological edge.
Cheri Gray
December 15, 2025 AT 08:43man ugh i just watched this and my heart stopped at 93’-like why is football even real?? De Luca just turned a whole town into a screaming mess and i’m over here in texas with a bag of chips and zero chill.
Vishala Vemulapadu
December 17, 2025 AT 04:34Cremonese’s 3-5-2 exploited Sassuolo’s structural instability-specifically, the lack of a true #8 to mediate between the lines. Matić’s decline and Boloca’s positional ignorance created a central vacuum that Vandeputte and Zerbin exploited via diagonal overloads. The penalty? A direct consequence of Sassuolo’s fullbacks overcommitting in transition. This wasn’t luck-it was tactical superiority.
ankur Rawat
December 18, 2025 AT 16:25man i swear if you told me six months ago that Cremonese would beat Sassuolo with a last-minute penalty i’d have laughed so hard i’d have spilled my chai. But this? This was beautiful. No fancy names, no billionaire owners-just grit, a coach who knows his players, and a kid who didn’t blink when the whole world was watching. Respect.
Kumar Deepak
December 20, 2025 AT 08:33the fact that Berardi scored a penalty and still looked like he wanted to cry after the final whistle says everything. He’s a legend, but he’s not a team. And Sassuolo’s manager? He didn’t just lose the match-he lost the plot. Someone needs to ask why Volpato got subbed off at 67. That’s not football. That’s a mystery novel written by a drunk coach.
Ganesh Dhenu
December 21, 2025 AT 03:08the stadium noise in the last 10 minutes was audible even through the screen. I’ve never seen such pure joy from a team that spent years fighting to stay alive. Cremonese didn’t just win-they remembered what football means to people.
Yogananda C G
December 21, 2025 AT 10:17Let me tell you something-this isn’t just a win, this is a movement, a cultural reset, a seismic shift in the balance of power in Serie A, because when a club with a 14,000-seat stadium and no billionaire backing can outplay a team that used to be the envy of Europe, it means the game is returning to its roots, where passion beats pedigree, where heart beats hierarchy, where a 24-year-old kid from nowhere steps up and turns a penalty into a legacy, and that’s not just football, that’s poetry written in sweat and scarves and silent stands that suddenly explode into thunder, and I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Divyanshu Kumar
December 22, 2025 AT 14:36Cremonese victory is a testament to disciplined structure and tactical cohesion. Sassuolo’s midfield disarray, particularly the absence of Volpato’s creative influence, rendered their attack ineffectual despite possession advantage. The penalty conversion rate under pressure remains a critical metric in elite football-De Luca’s composure exemplifies the psychological edge gained through consistent pre-season preparation.
Andrea Hierman
December 24, 2025 AT 12:51Wow. Just… wow. I’m from Ohio. I didn’t even know Cremonese existed a week ago. Now I’m rewatching the penalty on loop. Someone send me a link to their merch. I need a scarf.
Mona Elhoby
December 25, 2025 AT 08:47Of course the underdogs win. Because the world loves a Cinderella story. But let’s be real-Sassuolo’s manager is a clown who thinks ‘tactical flexibility’ means randomly swapping players like a game of musical chairs. And Berardi? He’s not magic-he’s a ghost haunting a sinking ship.
Danny Johnson
December 25, 2025 AT 14:10That’s the kind of football that reminds you why you fell in love with the game. No ego, no flash, just pure belief. Cremonese didn’t just win-they gave everyone who’s ever been told they’re too small, too poor, too unimportant a reason to keep going. Keep fighting, boys.
Christine Dick
December 26, 2025 AT 22:17And yet, despite this emotional spectacle, we must ask: Is this sustainable? A team relying on last-minute penalties and overworked defenders cannot compete in the long term. This is not triumph-it is a fluke wrapped in nostalgia. The real losers are the fans who now believe in fairy tales instead of football.
Jullien Marie Plantinos
December 28, 2025 AT 11:25Italy? More like Italy-Can’t-Defend. This is why American soccer is better. We don’t need 93rd-minute penalties-we just score and move on. Also, why is everyone crying over a team from a town with 70,000 people? We have cities with more people than that and they don’t get ESPN documentaries.
Jason Davis
December 28, 2025 AT 12:27That De Luca kid? He’s got that quiet confidence-the kind you don’t see much anymore. Not the flashy type, not the one who dances after scoring. Just… steps up, does the job, and lets the crowd scream for him. That’s leadership. And the way Baschirotto held the middle? Pure textbook. Cremonese didn’t just win-they redefined what ‘small club’ means.
Crystal Zárifa
December 29, 2025 AT 03:37so like… i just watched this at 3am with headphones on and i swear i heard a dog bark in the crowd and then the whole stadium exploded and i cried a little. not because i’m a fan. just because… sometimes life gives you moments that make no sense but feel perfect anyway.
Serena May
December 30, 2025 AT 10:41De Luca’s penalty = 100% clutch. Sassuolo’s defense = 0% competent. Berardi’s isolation = 100% managerial failure. Stats don’t lie. And neither do tears.