Super Eagles star Cyriel Dessers was in action Cremonese, but Massimiliano Alvini's men suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Jose Mourinho's AS Roma in their Serie A clash at Stadio Olimpico.
After losing via a last-minute goal to Fiorentina in their first league game on their return to the top flight, it was another painful defeat for the newly-promoted side.
Cremonese frustrate Mourinho's men
The Gray and Reds gave Mourinho's men a hard time and were unlucky not to leave Stadio Olimpico with at least a point.
Having started their league campaign with a 1-0 win over Salernitana, Roma went into their first home game of the season hoping to get the maximum points.
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The Yellow and Reds started on the front foot and could have taken the lead inside the first ten minutes, but Zaniolo's effort was pushed away by Andrei Radu.
Roma continued to threaten, and they almost took the lead when Paulo Dybala's cross found Tammy Abraham, but Emanuele Valeri's vital interception denied the ex-Chelsea man.
Cremonese grew into the game following Roma's early dominance, with their Nigerian imports David Okereke and Cyriel Dessers firing speculative shots from distance.
Roma finally see off brave Cremonese
The away side held their own in the opening half, denying their more illustrious opponents. The second half resumed with Cremonese sticking with their game plan, and they almost took the lead through Dessers.
The former Genk striker's got on the end of a long ball before firing a perfect volley that came off the bar. Dessers again got close to putting Cremonese ahead with an overhead kick that was just wide off the post.
The ex-Feyenoord man was a handful for Roma defenders, firing four shots off-target and making two key passes. However, despite Cremonese's best efforts, it was Roma that took the lead through a header from Chris Smalling in the 65th minute.
Although the away side pressed for an equaliser, Mourinho's men held on to make it two wins out of two.