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Lecce logo
Serie A | Gameweek 36
May 21, 2023 at 11.30am UK
Stadio Comunale Via del Mare
Spezia Calcio logo

Lecce
0 - 0
Spezia


Umtiti (49'), Blin (89')
FT

Wisniewski (59'), Esposito (86'), N'Zola (88')

Preview: Lecce vs. Spezia - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Serie A clash between Lecce and Spezia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

In a crucial battle near the bottom of Serie A, Lecce host relegation rivals Spezia at Stadio Via del Mare on Sunday.

Separated by two points in the standings with just three games left to play, the hosts hold a slim advantage over their Ligurian visitors, who would leapfrog the 16th-placed Salentini with a win.


Match preview

Lecce's Remi Oudin celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on May 12, 2023© Reuters

Defying both the odds and the form book, Lecce came within minutes of toppling Lazio last weekend, when Remi Oudin struck twice at Stadio Olimpico but then saw his team denied by a late Sergej Milinkovic-Savic leveller.

Nonetheless, a creditable 2-2 draw with the Champions League-chasers leaves Marco Baroni's men two points clear of the Serie A drop zone and with their destiny still in their own hands.

Lecce have, though, lost three of their last five matches - to Milan, Juventus and survival rivals Hellas Verona - and over the last 12 matchdays they have picked up the fewest points of any club, including rock-bottom Sampdoria.

Now aiming to avoid defeat for two consecutive games for the first time since February, the Giallorossi are acutely aware that success against Spezia would move them within touching distance of securing another top-flight campaign.

Last year's Serie B champions adapted to life among Italy's elite with apparent ease before the winter break, but after several months of toil subsequently, they would now be delighted to scramble over the line and recalibrate during the summer.

Spezia's Ethan Ampadu and Bartlomiej Dragowski celebrate after the match on March 10, 2023© Reuters

Outside of the relegation zone only by virtue of a superior head-to-head record against Verona, Spezia have also slid closer to the trapdoor of late, but a remarkable turn of fortunes last week certainly revived their hopes of Serie A salvation.

After holding Champions League semi-finalists Milan goalless heading into the final 20 minutes at Stadio Picco, the Aquilotti then soared to a precious 2-0 success via goals from Przemyslaw Wisniewski and Salvatore Esposito - the latter curling a superb free-kick past Mike Maignan to seal the deal.

Curiously, amid an otherwise barren run, Spezia's last two wins have now come against Milan and Inter, while their last seven league goals have been scored by seven different players.

Having been without leading marksman M'Bala Nzola on several occasions this spring, the Ligurian side have struggled to find the net regularly - and they were still found lacking during a 0-0 draw with Lecce in January's reverse fixture despite the striker's presence up front.

They have failed to score in exactly half of their fixtures played throughout 2023, but after such a morale-boosting win last time out, Spezia can now seek successive league victories for the first time in more than a year.

Lecce Serie A form:

Spezia Serie A form:


Team News

 Lecce's Morten Hjulmand in action with Atalanta's Ruslan Malinovskyi on November 9, 2022© Reuters

In the absence of captain Morten Hjulmand, who sustained a thigh injury last week, Lecce are likely to ask Joan Gonzalez to plug the gap in midfield, while Lameck Banda's suspension also necessitates a change further forward.

Federico Di Francesco is poised to replace the latter on the left of a front three, with top scorer Gabriel Strefezza certain to start on the right. The Brazilian winger has been directly involved in 11 league goals so far this season - eight of his own and three assists.

In the centre of the hosts' attacking triumvirate, Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo must hold off competition from Assan Ceesay to lead the line.

Spezia, meanwhile, will be without French full-back Kelvin Amian due to a one-match ban for accumulated bookings, and with Emil Holm still sidelined, coach Leonardo Semplici could offer a rare start to Salva Ferrer on the right flank.

Jacopo Sala (calf), Simone Bastoni and Daniel Maldini (both thigh) are also out of action due to injury, but Kevin Agudelo returns following suspension and could play a part at some stage.


Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Gallo; Gonzalez, Blin, Oudin; Strefezza, Colombo, Di Francesco

Spezia possible starting lineup:
Dragowski; Wisniewksi, Ampadu, Nikolaou; Ferrer, Ekdal, Esposito, Bourabia, Reca; Gyasi, Nzola


SM words green background

We say: Lecce 1-0 Spezia

Lecce can celebrate their 600th Serie A fixture by securing a crucial win that could effectively keep them in the top flight. Spezia do not travel well - 11 losses from 17 away games attest to that - and they could be left hoping Verona do not capitalise on another slip-up at Via del Mare.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data


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Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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Game History

How you voted: Lecce vs Spezia

Lecce
88.9%
Draw
7.4%
Spezia
3.7%
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1Atalanta BCAtalanta15111338172134
2Napoli15102321101132
3Inter Milan1494134151931
4Fiorentina1494128101831
5Lazio15101430171331
6Juventus1569024101427
7AC Milan146442416822
8Bologna145722018222
9Udinese156271822-420
10Empoli154741415-119
11Roma154471821-316
12Torino154471620-416
13Parma153662125-415
14Genoa153661324-1115
15CagliariCagliari153571525-1014
16Lecce15348826-1813
17Como152671628-1212
18Hellas VeronaHellas Verona1540111837-1912
19Monza151771319-610
20VeneziaVenezia1523101327-149


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