Seeking their first win since August, strugglers Lecce will host Hellas Verona on Tuesday evening at Stadio Via del Mare.
Also Read: Match Preview: Cagliari vs. Bologna – prediction, team news, lineups (29th October, 2024)
Both teams are desperate for points, with Lecce sitting second-bottom of the Serie A table, while Verona lingers just four points above them after suffering a heavy defeat at the weekend.
Lecce’s recent form has been alarming, losing four consecutive matches without scoring. Their last outing ended in a 6-0 defeat to Fiorentina, prompting concern ahead of their away match against league leaders Napoli.
However, the Salentini showed resilience despite losing narrowly to Napoli, courtesy of a late goal from Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
This left them still winless in six league matches, putting coach Luca Gotti under pressure as they prepare for a crucial clash against relegation rivals Verona.
Currently, Lecce has only five points from their opening matches and has struggled offensively, scoring the fewest goals in Europe’s top five leagues—just three.
Their defensive issues are also evident, having conceded 19 goals, contributing to a dismal start to the 2024-25 season, which includes an early Coppa Italia exit against Serie B side Sassuolo.
Verona’s Recent Struggles
In contrast, Hellas Verona began the season with optimism after winning their opening matches against Napoli, Genoa, and Venezia.
However, the past week has seen them slump, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Monza followed by a staggering 6-1 loss to Atalanta, where they found themselves trailing 4-0 within the first half-hour.
Although they have scored 13 goals—more than any other team in the bottom half—their defensive record is concerning, with 21 goals conceded, making their defense worse than Lecce’s.
Historically, Verona has had the upper hand in this matchup, winning four straight games against Lecce and claiming four points in last season’s Serie A encounters.
Team News
Lecce will welcome back left-back Antonino Gallo after his suspension, while Patrick Dorgu, who caught the eye of Napoli’s Antonio Conte after Saturday’s match, may return to a more attacking role.
Lecce’s injury list includes Kevin Bonifazi, Filip Marchwinski, and Medon Berisha, though French full-back Frederic Guilbert could be fit to participate in the match.
Striker Nikola Krstovic, despite only netting two league goals so far, will once again lead the line due to a lack of alternatives.
Hellas Verona will see Ondrej Duda return from a one-match suspension, likely replacing Suat Serdar in midfield.
However, the visitors will be without Juan Cruz, Abdou Harroui, Martin Frese, and Pawel Dawidowicz due to injuries.
Coach Paolo Zanetti is faced with a decision on whether to continue with a three-man defense or revert to a four-man backline against Lecce.
Possible Lineups
Lecce’s Possible Starting XI:
- Falcone; Pelmard, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly, Pierret; Dorgu, Krstovic, Rebic
Hellas Verona’s Possible Starting XI:
- Montipo; Tchatchoua, Ghilardi, Magnani, Bradaric; Duda, Belahyane; Suslov, Kastanos, Lazovic; Tengstedt
With both teams in search of crucial points to avoid falling further behind, this encounter promises to be a decisive fixture in their respective campaigns.
