Though they ended the 2023-24 campaign without a win in five games, Lecce did just enough to retain their top-flight status once again, finishing 14th in the final Serie A standings.

Results improved after Roberto D'Aversa was dismissed following his post-match headbutt on Hellas Verona's Thomas Henry, and the steady hand of former Spezia boss Luca Gotti ultimately steered the Salentini to safety.

Gotti remains in charge for the upcoming campaign, which starts with Monday's cup tie and an opening league game against Europa League winners Atalanta BC one week later.

After starting pre-season with a promising 3-0 win over Werder Bremen, the Giallorossi came away empty-handed from games against Galatasaray, Huddersfield Town and then Nice, the latter of whom won 3-2 at Via del Mare last week.

In last season's Coppa Italia, Lecce lost in the second round to Parma - who were subsequently promoted as Serie B champions - and they have never before lifted Italy's national cup.

Neither have modest Mantova, though they did come relatively close just over 60 years ago, beating mighty Juventus in a third-place playoff in the 1961-62 edition.

More recently, the Lombardy club have been on the road back from bankruptcy in 2017, and they are now looking forward to life in Calcio's second tier, having won promotion to Serie B last season.

Finishing as top scorers in their regional division saw the Biancorossi come out on top, gaining great acclaim for head coach Davide Possanzini.

Previously a member of Roberto De Zerbi's coaching staff at Foggia, Palermo, Benevento, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, the 48-year-old has modelled his Mantova team in the style of his mentor - so far, to great success.

Beating Torres 2-1 in the Coppa Italia's preliminary round got the new season off to a winning start last weekend, and now the prize for upsetting Lecce would be a second-round tie with Possanzini's old club Sassuolo.

Lecce pre-season form:

Mantova Coppa Italia form:

Mantova form (all competitions):

Team News

Spezia coach Luca Gotti on November 5, 2022 © Reuters

Despite losing Gabriel Strefezza to newly-promoted Como and Marin Pongracic to Fiorentina this summer, Lecce have also recruited several new players that could make their first competitive appearance for the Puglian club on Monday.

Kialonda Gaspar is set to replace Pongracic at centre-back, while Filip Marchwinski and Tete Morente add to Luca Gotti's creative options in the final third.

The latter pair are likely to support Nikola Krstovic up front, while French midfielder Balthazar Pierret may also be handed a debut in the hosts' engine room.

Meanwhile, Mantova have brought in experienced forwards Leonardo Mancuso and Mattia Aramu to bolster their attack for this season.

Both could start, but Francesco Galuppini was selected for the cup win over Torres last time out; winger Antonio Fiori scored in that game and is set to play again at Via del Mare.

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Oudin, Marchwinski, Morente; Krstovic

Mantova possible starting lineup:
Festa; Brignani, Panizzi, Maggioni, Redolfi; Trimboli, Burrai, Muroni; Fiori, Mancuso, Aramu

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We say: Lecce 3-2 Mantova

Given Mantova's attacking approach, it could be an absorbing cup contest on Monday evening, but Lecce have built a capable squad over the past couple of years and should make a successful return to action.

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