Jamie Vardy produced a vintage display on Monday night, scoring twice as Cremonese earned a remarkable 3-1 victory away at Bologna, handing the hosts their first home defeat of the Serie A season. The 38-year-old Englishman, renowned for his exploits at Leicester City, showcased the sharp instincts that defined his Premier League career as he continues his late-career adventure in Italy.
Vardy’s double — his first in Serie A — arrived on a rain-soaked evening at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with the forward joking afterwards that the conditions made him feel right at home.
“I think we were just missing a bit of rain — this is a typical midweek in the UK,” Vardy laughed after the match. “The most important thing was getting the three points and keeping that progress going. It’s another step in the right direction.”
Cremonese, promoted last season, had entered the fixture on the back of three consecutive defeats. Yet under Davide Nicola, they showed resilience and purpose. Martin Payero opened the scoring in the 31st minute, before Vardy doubled the lead five minutes later with a trademark finish — darting onto Federico Bonazzoli’s precise pass and slotting calmly through goalkeeper Federico Ravaglia’s legs.
Bologna briefly threatened a comeback when Riccardo Orsolini converted a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time. But Jamie Vardy quickly extinguished hopes of a turnaround, reacting sharply just four minutes after the restart. He raced ahead of Ravaglia to meet Tommaso Barbieri’s cross with a clinical first-time finish, taking his tally to four goals in nine Serie A appearances.
The result lifted Cremonese to 11th place on 17 points, an encouraging return for a side expected to fight relegation. For Bologna, who could have closed to within a point of leaders AC Milan and Napoli, it was a humbling night.
After the match, coach Davide Nicola praised Vardy’s professionalism and influence in the dressing room.
“It’s a privilege having him here,” Nicola said. “Great players are easy to manage because they know what to do and how to do it. Jamie stands out not just for his talent but for his spirit and humility. He came here with a team-first mentality.”
Jamie Vardy joined Cremonese in September on a one-year deal, with an option for a second season if the club retains its top-flight status. The former Premier League winner has spoken of his admiration for Italian football — and judging by Monday’s performance, his Serie A chapter is off to a thrilling start.
