Roma vs Lecce Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It sounds remarkable but is fast becoming the reality that Roma are indeed in a relegation battle in Serie A, or at least close to being dragged into it, as they ow welcome fellow but improving strugglers Lecce to the Stadio Olimpico.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 7th December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
Roma Preview: Roman ruins
The Friedkin Group who own Roma, and are about to takeover at Everton, are under intense scrutiny from Roma supporters with the Giallorossi languishing down at the bottom end of the table with club legend Daniele De Rossi sacked a couple of months ago before former Hellas Verona boss Ivan Juric was sacked last month.
Boyhood Roma supporter Claudio Ranieri has come out of retirement to take charge at the Olimpico and performances have improved but they have drawn one and lost two of their opening three matches. A 1-0 loss against Napoli was followed by a last gasp 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur before losing 2-0 at home to Atalanta last week.
Lecce Preview: Solid Lecce
In the March international break of last season, Lecce took the decision to sack Roberto D’Aversa and replace him with Luca Gotti. The Apulia-based club managed to steady the ship and, with a very defensive and reactive style of football, eventually move themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places.
This season has seen them once again play in a very defensive and reactive manner but their form has been improving with a last-gasp equaliser at home to Juventus last weekend meaning they have now suffered just one defeat in their last five matches and they have scored just seven goals in 14 games all season.
Roma Team News: Simplifying things
Claudio Ranieri’s main brief with Roma is perhaps simply to try and simplify things tactically and get players playing back near their base level over the next few months.
They have had injury issues throughout the campaign but they only have one injury concern for now with Real Madrid-linked Mario Hermoso sidelined for the time being.
Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Svilar; Mancini, Hummels, Ndicka; Celik, Cristante, Paredes, Kone, Tasende; Dybala; Dovbyk
Unavailable: Mario Hermoso (Injured)
Questionable:
Lecce Team News: Several injuries
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for Lecce’s trip to the capital city this weekend so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one.
The visitors are still dealing with several injury concerns, though, as Lameck Banda remains sidelined alongside both Balthazer Pierret and Kevin Bonifazi.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Dorgu, Rafia, Tete Morente; Krstovic
Unavailable: Banda (Injured), Pierret (Injured), Bonifazi (Injured)
Questionable:
Roma vs Lecce Prediction
Roma have, as mentioned, been much-improved in the last few matches despite the fact results have still been quite poor. The Giallorossi will be expected to be a little more front foot here, though, than they have been in those three games. Lecce, on the other hand, will simply look to be as deep and as defensive as they expect with very few games where they take the game to the opposition. The Romans are the favourites, especially with home advantage, but it is expected to be a low-scoring affair.
Roma vs Lecce Tip: Roma to win & under 3.5 goals
