AS Roma will welcome newly-promoted Lecce this Sunday in the ninth round of the 2022/23 Serie A season.
Venue: Stadio Olimpico (Rome)
Key Statistics
AS Roma have lost their last two home games.
The hosts have kept one clean sheet in their last seven games.
Lecce have lost just one of their last six games in the league (W1, D4).
The visitors have failed to score in only one of their last six games.
They have scored seven goals in the league this season. Only Sampdoria (4) and Cremonese (6) have scored fewer goals.
Head to head
In the last 15 meetings between both sides, AS Roma have eleven wins while Lecce have just one win.
Latest performances in all competitions
AS Roma: L-W-L-W-W
Lecce: D-W-D-L-D
AS Roma
After their disappointing outing in the Europa League last Thursday, AS Roma will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Lecce to Rome this Saturday.
The hosts were beaten by the Spanish La Liga side Real Betis 2-1 at home in their last outing, putting their chances of qualifying from their group at risk. In a disappointing outing at the Stadio Olimpico, Jose Mourinho’s side took the lead in the 34th minute through Paulo Dybala from the penalty spot.
But goals from Guido Rodriguez and Luiz Henrique gave Manuel Pellegrini’s side all three points with Nicolo Zaniolo getting a last-minute red card in the game.
But in the league, AS Roma come into this tie on the back of a 2-1 comeback win over title rivals Inter Milan last weekend, taking their points tally for the season to 16 points (W8, D1, L2).
They currently sit four points behind Serie A leaders Napoli and sit in sixth place ahead of this round. They will want to keep winning games to keep them within the conversation of the title.
Having won eleven of their last 15 games against Lecce, losing just once, they will be confident of getting a win in this game and end their two-game losing run at home in all competition.
Possible AS Roma starting line-up
Rui Patricio; Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling, Roger Ibanez; Nicola Zalewski, Bryan Cristante, Nemanja Matić, Leonardo Spinazzola; Paulo Dybala, Nicolo Zaniolo; Tammy Abraham
Injured: Georginio Wijnaldum, Ebrima Darboe, Rick Karsdorp
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Lecce
Lecce will look to make it four games without defeat in the league when they travel to Rome on Saturday.
The newly-promoted visitors have enjoyed a remarkable run of form in recent weeks, losing just one of their last six games, with four draws and one win in that period.
The last of those draws came last weekend in a 1-1 draw with fellow newly-promoted side Cremonese.
The result leaves them sitting in a respectable 13th place in the league. Although that is just two points ahead of 18th-placed Verona, they currently are the best-performing side among all the newly-promoted sides.
With their last away outing ending in a 2-1 win over Salernitana, ending a run of six away games without a win (D1, L5), they will fancy their chances of getting a second win on the bounce in their away trips.
Possible Lecce starting line-up
Wladimiro Falcone; Valentin Gandrey, Marin Pongracic, Federico Baschriotto, Giuseppe Pezzella; Kristijan Biistrovic, Morten Hjulmand, Joan Gonzalez; Lameck Banda, Assan Ceesay, Gabriel Strefezza.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
AS Roma 2-0 Lecce
