Cremonese vs Napoli Player Ratings as Rasmus Hojlund Brace Lifts Napoli to 2nd Place in the Table After a Dominating 2-0 Victory

Napoli came into this Serie A fixture expecting a tight contest, but Antonio Conte's side dismantled Cremonese with ease. This match was effectively over before halftime. The Cremonese vs Napoli match, played at Stadio Giovanni Zini, was a showcase of attacking football from the visitors. The star of the show was unequivocally Rasmus Højlund. His clinical finishing was the decisive factor, bagging two first-half goals that left the home side with a mountain to climb. The first goal, a poacher's finish, arrived early and set the tone for Napoli's dominance. The second was a sublime strike just before the break, putting the game beyond doubt.

Cremonese fought, but they were simply outclassed across the park. They struggled to contain Napoli's fluid movement and were often chasing shadows. What stood out to us was Napoli's relentless pressure and control of the midfield, masterminded by the impressive Scott McTominay. While the home side had moments, they never truly threatened a comeback, a testament to Napoli's organised and disciplined defensive display. Here are Sportsdunia's Cremonese vs Napoli player ratings.

Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay were phenomenal against Cremonese in the Napoli Player Ratings

Check out the Napoli player ratings for the Cremonese vs Napoli fixture.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 7.0: Had a very quiet day at the office, which is a credit to his defence. Made a couple of smart saves when called upon, including a good stop from a Martín Payero header. He commanded his area well and his distribution was clean. An easy clean sheet.

Defenders

Juan Jesus - 6.5: A mixed bag from the defender. He picked up a silly yellow card and looked a bit clumsy in some challenges. However, he made a few important clearances and was mostly solid. Did his job without any major errors but also without standing out.

Amir Rrahmani - 7.0: A strong presence at the back. We noticed he was a rock, making five clearances and winning his ground duels. He was a little less convincing in the air, losing four aerial battles, but overall it was a commanding performance that kept Jamie Vardy quiet.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 7.5: A real captain's performance. He was a constant outlet on the right flank, getting forward to create two key passes. Defensively, he was astute and rarely troubled. His leadership and energy were vital for the team's control of the game.

Midfielders

Scott McTominay - 8.5: An all-action, dominant display in the heart of midfield. He provided a beautiful assist for the second goal and was a menace all game, taking five shots. From our perspective, his energy and powerful running were too much for Cremonese to handle. The yellow card was the only minor blemish on an otherwise superb outing.

Matteo Politano - 7.5: A livewire on the wing. He was constantly looking to take on his man and delivered some dangerous crosses into the box. Forced a couple of good saves from the keeper and was a persistent threat until he was substituted late on. A really positive and aggressive performance.

Stanislav Lobotka - 8.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He was flawless. We were amazed by his composure on the ball, winning 100% of his duels and recovering the ball seven times. He kept everything ticking over, recycling possession and breaking up play effortlessly. A masterclass in midfield control.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 6.0: Only lasted 45 minutes and didn't really get into the game. He lost the ball a bit too often and seemed slightly off the pace. Wasn't a bad performance, just an anonymous one before being hooked at halftime.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match and the highest-rated player. What can we say? Two goals, clinical finishing, and a performance full of power and intelligence. He terrorized the home defense from start to finish. He did miss one big chance, but his two goals were the difference. A phenomenal display.

David Neres - 6.5: He was busy and created a couple of chances, but his final product was frustratingly absent. Skied a couple of shots and didn't quite have the killer instinct his team needed. A decent effort but could have offered more.

Eljif Elmas - 6.0: A very quiet 51 minutes for the attacker. He barely got involved, with only 17 touches of the ball. His passing was tidy, but he offered next to no threat before being substituted.

Substitutes

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.0: Came on at halftime and provided fresh legs, but didn't have a major impact on the proceedings.

Noa Lang - 6.5: Looked bright after coming on, creating a couple of good chances for his teammates.

Alessandro Buongiorno - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Pasquale Mazzocchi - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Lorenzo Lucca - N/A: Came on for the hero Rasmus Højlund late in the game.

Manager

A. Conte - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. Napoli came out of the blocks flying and had the game won by halftime. His team selection was spot on, and they controlled the match from the first minute to the last. An excellent day at the office for the manager.

Emil Audero fought a losing battle despite little support in the Cremonese Player Ratings

Check out the Cremonese player ratings for the Cremonese vs Napoli fixture.

Goalkeeper

Emil Audero - 7.5: He was the only reason this wasn't a complete humiliation. Made six saves, some of them excellent, to keep the score respectable. He could do nothing about the two goals. A heroic effort in a losing cause.

Defenders

Federico Baschirotto - 6.0: The captain had a torrid time against Napoli's attack. He battled hard and made a few tackles but was part of a defensive unit that was completely overwhelmed. A tough evening for him.

Matteo Bianchetti - 5.5: A really difficult game for the centre-back. He was dribbled past three times and just couldn't handle the movement of Rasmus Højlund. Substituted after 82 minutes of struggle.

Filippo Terracciano - 6.5: Probably the best of a bad bunch at the back. He read the game well, making four interceptions, and his passing was surprisingly accurate under pressure. He put in a decent shift despite the result.

Midfielders

Giuseppe Pezzella - 6.0: He worked tirelessly but offered very little going forward. Was solid enough defensively but was pinned back for most of the game. An industrious but ultimately ineffective performance.

Tommaso Barbieri - 5.5: Found it very tough against Napoli's tricky wingers. Picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul and was eventually substituted. He was chasing shadows for much of his time on the pitch.

Alessio Zerbin - 6.0: Another player who ran hard but lacked quality. He was tenacious in the tackle but couldn't influence the game in an attacking sense. Replaced with about 15 minutes to go.

Martín Payero - 6.5: One of the few Cremonese players who looked like he might create something. Had a few efforts on goal and tried to drive his team forward. A decent individual effort in a poor team performance.

Alberto Grassi - 5.5: The game completely passed him by. He was overrun in midfield, lost possession too easily, and offered no protection to his back four. A performance to forget.

Forwards

Jamie Vardy - 5.0: From our perspective, he was a ghost. Totally isolated and anonymous, with just 24 touches all game. He offered no threat and was easily handled by the Napoli defence. A very poor showing.

Antonio Sanabria - 5.5: Like his strike partner, he was completely starved of service. He battled for the ball but never looked like scoring. It was no surprise to see him substituted on the hour mark.

Substitutes

Faris Moumbagna - 6.0: Brought on to add a physical presence but had little impact.

Dennis Johnsen - 6.0: Replaced the struggling Barbieri and put in a steady if unspectacular cameo.

Federico Bonazzoli - 5.5: Came on and got himself booked almost immediately.

Warren Bondo - 6.5: Looked lively and had a decent long-range shot late in the game.

Romano Floriani Mussolini - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

D. Nicola - 5.0: His team was set up to defend but they couldn't cope with Napoli's quality. They were second best in every department. His substitutions didn't change the flow of the game, and his side never looked like scoring. A day to forget for the boss.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Rasmus Højlund