Hojlund Lights Up Napoli’s 2-0 Away Victory Over Cremonese

Napoli fans were treated to a dazzling display as Rasmus Hojlund’s double sank Cremonese 2-0, breathing new life into the Serie A title race for the 2025/26 season. The away win not only sent Napoli soaring to second place—just one tantalizing point behind AC Milan—but also turned up the heat on Inter, who now watch the competition tighten with every round. It was a performance full of energy, resilience, and the kind of clinical finishing that fuels championship dreams.

Lightning start sets the tone

Right from kickoff, Napoli asserted themselves, showing the hunger of a team unwilling to give up ground in the title hunt. In just the 13th minute, a moment of chaos in the Cremonese box unraveled the home defense. Matteo Politano whipped in a dangerous cross, and when Cremonese failed to clear their lines, Hojlund was the quickest to react, steering the ball home from a few yards out. 

Just moments later, Cremonese nearly responded in dramatic fashion. Center-back Matteo Bianchetti lofted a tempting half-volley just over the bar—the closest the hosts came to troubling the Napoli net. In that instant, the match could have turned, illustrating how razor-thin the margins can be in elite football.

Hojlund’s clinical edge

The opening stages of the match belonged to Hojlund as he carved out multiple chances and threatened to build his goal tally higher. A promising opportunity went begging after he failed to control an ambitious long clearance from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during a one-on-one with Cremonese keeper Emil Audero. Frustration flashed briefly—but champions always find a way to respond.

Redemption was swift. Just before the break, Scott McTominay won a flick-on at the edge of the box, directing the ball perfectly into Hojlund’s path. Calm amid the chaos, the Danish striker slotted it in with composure and style, doubling Napoli’s advantage. The finish underscored the quality that convinced Napoli to bring him to Italy—quick feet, cool head.

Second-half near misses and secure victory

Napoli’s grip tightened early in the second half as Cremonese struggled to mount a comeback. The crowd gasped as Hojlund nearly completed his hat-trick, muscling past Federico Baschirotto only to find the side-netting with his shot. The chance, though missed, was yet another sign of the striker’s growing confidence and imposing physicality.

As the match wore on, Napoli’s control grew. McTominay, ever-present in midfield, unleashed a powerful effort late on, forcing a brilliant save from Audero. But the night belonged to Hojlund and Napoli—the visitors were never seriously threatened, and their victory felt fully deserved.

Key match moments in a glance:

• Hojlund scores 13th-minute opener after a defensive scramble.
• Bianchetti nearly equalizes with a volley over the bar.
• Hojlund nets his second just before half-time via McTominay’s assist.
• Close calls for a Hojlund hat-trick and a McTominay strike in the second half.
• Cremonese unable to ignite a response, yielding a comfortable Napoli win.

Pressure mounts in the race for glory

With this electrifying win, Napoli had shown that they are a serious contender for this year Scudetto. Moving within a single point of leaders AC Milan, they have transformed the balance at the league’s summit, heaping pressure on rivals Inter. The message is loud and clear: any slip at the top could prove decisive as the 2025/26 Serie A campaign heats up.