PARMA, Italy (Interstat) — In a stunning opening day upset that defied statistical projections, visiting US Cremonese defeated Parma 2-0 in a Serie A match Saturday at Stadio Ennio Tardini.

The result, played on March 21, 2026, immediately inverted preseason expectations. Parma entered as heavy favorites, with Interstat’s ELO system giving the home side an 80.70 percent probability to win. The same analytics service had projected a 1-1 draw. Instead, Cremonese executed a disciplined defensive plan and capitalized on second-half substitutions to secure a clean-sheet victory.

The first half was a tense, physical affair with few clear chances, culminating in a flurry of cautions. Cremonese’s Tommaso Barbieri was shown yellow cards in the 46th and 50th minutes, putting his side under pressure. Despite being a man down in discipline, Cremonese broke through shortly after. Following Barbieri’s second booking, substitute Youssef Maleh entered the match and made an instant impact. In the 54th minute, Maleh found the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, assisted by midfielder Jacob Ondrejka.

Parma, now trailing at home, pushed for an equalizer but found Cremonese’s defense organized and resilient. The visitors doubled their advantage in the 68th minute. Barbieri, still on the pitch despite his earlier cautions, turned provider, delivering his second assist of the match. His pass found fellow substitute Jari Vandeputte, who scored to make it 2-0.

The match’s final key moment came in the 66th minute, just before the decisive second goal, when Cremonese’s Ondrejka received a yellow card.

Cremonese managed the game effectively from there, seeing out the final minutes plus stoppage time to seal the victory. The final kick of the match, denoted in the game log at 90+4’, underscored a frustrating day for the hosts, who failed to register on the scoresheet.

With the win, US Cremonese begins its Serie A campaign with a record of 1 win and 0 losses, while Parma starts 0-1. Across all competitions for the young season, Cremonese is 1-0 and Parma is 0-1.

The victory was built on a standout collective performance from Cremonese’s substitutes, with goal scorers Maleh and Vandeputte both entering the match from the bench, and Barbieri contributing two assists from his wide position despite disciplinary tightrope. Ondrejka’s midfield work and assist were also pivotal. Parma, favored by a significant margin pre-game, was left to reckon with a surprising and decisive opening-day defeat in front of its home supporters.