Vardy Fires Back With First Serie A Double
Jamie Vardy answered his critics in emphatic fashion as his first Serie A brace powered Cremonese to a stunning 3-1 win over Bologna, ending the hosts’ 12-match unbeaten run and reshaping the narrative around both clubs.
The 37-year-old striker, who joined from Leicester City this summer, scored twice in a game that should have belonged to Bologna. Yet instead, it became the moment Cremonese broke out of their early-season slump—and the moment Vardy reminded Italy of his big-game pedigree.
Bologna’s best run meets an unexpected wall
On paper, this fixture was straightforward. Bologna arrived undefeated in 12 league matches and unbeaten at home since early September. Cremonese, by contrast, had lost three in a row with a combined score of 6–2 and had managed just one win since their opening two games.
But instead of the hosts asserting control, Matteo Bianchetti carved open their defense on 30 minutes with a piercing through ball. Martín Payero latched on and buried a clinical finish to silence the crowd.
Bologna barely had time to reset. Just four minutes later, Vardy broke behind a flat-footed back line and produced a near-identical finish from Federico Bonazzoli’s pass. Two goals, two carbon-copy transitions, and an unrecognizable Bologna suddenly staring at a 2-0 deficit.
Vardy’s night becomes the story
Bologna clawed back into the contest when Riccardo Orsolini converted from the spot just before halftime. But every time the match threatened to swing, Vardy forced it back toward Cremonese.
Five minutes after the break he stole in at the near post to turn in a low cross from the right. A poacher’s goal, pure instinct—and his first brace since arriving in Italy.
It was a defining moment for a player who, according to reports in the U.K., had his home near Lake Garda robbed just days earlier, with around £80,000 worth of valuables stolen while he was away playing in Rome.
For a veteran known for feeding off adversity, the timing felt symbolic. “This was personal” could have been the headline of the night.
What this result really means
For Cremonese, this wasn’t just a morale boost. It changes the direction of their season.
- Just one win in their previous nine matches
- Three straight losses before Monday
- Now up to 11th in the Serie A table
Tactically, it showed a level of composure and counter-attacking precision they’ve lacked since August. The combination of Bonazzoli and Vardy looked threatening in a way it hasn’t all campaign.
For Bologna, the questions are sharper. This was the first time Vincenzo Italiano’s side conceded three goals in a single match this season. They dropped to sixth place, behind Como on goal difference, but the real concern is the nature of the defeat—flat at the back, slow to react, and uncharacteristically vulnerable in transition.
Was this just a bad night? Or a warning sign for a side chasing European qualification?
Vardy changes the conversation
Serie A has been waiting to see whether Vardy’s late-career move was nostalgia or a genuine competitive step. Monday’s performance tipped the debate toward the latter.
He brought Premier League menace and old-school striker’s instinct. He delivered in the biggest moment. And he did it after a week that would have mentally rattled most players.
Cremonese now have momentum back. Bologna have a first crack in the armor. And Serie A suddenly has a veteran English striker shaking up the storyline.
The next matchday feels bigger already.