Jamie Vardy rolled back the years on Monday night, scoring his first-ever Serie A brace to inspire Cremonese to a remarkable 3–1 victory over high-flying Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
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The 38-year-old former Leicester City and England striker delivered two clinical finishes—one in each half—continuing his impressive late-career chapter in Italian football. The win lifts promoted Cremonese to 11th place with 17 points and ends their run of three consecutive defeats.
Bologna, unbeaten at home this season before the match, missed the chance to move within one point of Serie A leaders AC Milan and Napoli. Instead, it was Vardy who stole the spotlight on a rainy night reminiscent of English football.
“I think we were just missing a bit of rain—this is a typical midweek in the UK,” Vardy joked after the match. “The most important thing was getting the three points. Everyone is committed and pushing to make this season a successful one.”
Cremonese took the lead through Martin Payero in the 31st minute, before Vardy doubled the advantage five minutes later with a composed finish through goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia’s legs after being played through by Federico Bonazzoli.
Bologna briefly gained hope when Riccardo Orsolini converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time. But Vardy struck again four minutes into the second half, racing ahead of Ravaglia to meet Tommaso Barbieri’s first-time pass, bringing his tally to four goals in nine appearances for the club.
Manager Davide Nicola praised the veteran forward, calling it a “privilege” to have him in the squad.
“Great players are easy to manage—they know what to do and how to do it,” Nicola said. “Vardy stands out not only for his talent but for his spirit and humility. He came here with the mentality to fully commit to the team.”
Vardy joined Cremonese in September on a one-year contract, with an extension option if the club secures Serie A survival. The move reflects his desire for a new footballing experience in Italy, with backing from club owner and steel tycoon Giovanni Arvedi.
