Cremonese have suffered an immediate return to Serie B after just one season in Serie A. The Grigiorossi’s relegation was confirmed on Matchday 36 as Lecce and Spezia drew after Cremonese had suffered a heavy 5-1 loss at home to Bologna earlier in the weekend.
The writing had been on the wall for quite some time for the side from Lombardia and their start to the 2022/23 Serie A season was historically bad. Cremonese failed to win any of their first 23 Serie A matches, finally bringing that run to an end on Matchday 24 by beating European hopefuls AS Roma at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.
Draw suits neither Lecce nor Spezia
The draw and subsequent sharing of the points in Salento on Matchday 36 doesn’t really suit either team, with each still facing the threat of relegation from Serie A in an intense battle likely to go down to the final weekend of the season. Lecce remain in 16th place on 33 points, while Spezia are 17th on 31. Hellas Verona currently occupy 18th place – the third and final relegation place – with 30 points to their name.
Verona still have Empoli and AC Milan to play, Spezia face Torino and AS Roma, and Lecce take on Monza and Bologna.
Cremonese joined list of historically poor Serie A sides
It was a long wait for a Serie A win for Cremonese in 2022/23, but there have been other clubs that have been in that situation previously.
Benevento lost their first 14 matches in their maiden campaign in 2017/18, and then earned their first-ever Serie A win on Matchday 19, beating Chievo 1-0. As well, Pescara in 2016/17 had only achieved one victory albeit on a forfeit before registering their first win on the pitch on Matchday 25, smashing Genoa 5-0.
However, the longest wait for a victory in Italy’s top flight was in 2003/04, when Ancona failed to win in the opening 28 rounds and they had already been relegated when they defeated Bologna 3-2 on Matchday 29. Worst of all, they went bankrupt and restarted in Serie C2.
