Following five league games without a win, Lecce resume their Coppa Italia campaign on Wednesday, when they welcome Serie B leaders Parma to Stadio Via del Mare.
Both aiming for a place in the last 16, where Fiorentina await, the two clubs are in contrasting form ahead of their midweek cup contest.
Match preview
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After starting the 2023-24 season in style, by beating Lazio in Serie A soon after progressing from the Coppa Italia's first round, Lecce have since tailed off somewhat, putting just two more wins on the board since late August.
The Salentini picked up just a point from two league fixtures last week, when a 1-1 draw with winless Udinese was followed by Saturday's 1-0 reverse at home to Torino.
Indeed, Lecce have now taken only one point from their last three home matches, after three wins from the first three, so boss Roberto D'Aversa will be keen to end that trend by beating lower-tier opposition on Wednesday.
The ex-Parma coach aims to start a new month with improved results, but Roma and Milan are the Giallorossi's next two opponents in Serie A, which makes Coppa Italia victory all the more essential.
Having edged past Como in the previous round, by virtue of Pontus Almqvist's first-half strike, Lecce are targeting the last 16, where Fiorentina - who they held to a 2-2 draw earlier this season - would be their rivals for a place in the quarter-finals.
While the Puglian outfit have never won the Coppa and exited to Cittadella in the first round last year, they now host a club with plenty of pedigree in Italy's national knockout competition - albeit one that has recently fallen on harder times.
Most recently relegated from the top flight in 2021, when D'Aversa tried and failed to keep them afloat, Parma came up short in the promotion playoffs last term, but current coach Fabio Pecchia has now taken the Emilian side to top spot in Serie B.
Two wins since the international break have helped Pecchia's men grow a five point lead, as Romanian winger Dennis Man scored three times across victories over Como and Ascoli.
With an ambitious project for a renewed Stadio Tardini also in the pipeline, things are finally looking brighter for fans of the Gialloblu, who are three-time Coppa Italia winners: in 1992, 1999 and 2002.
Beating Bari 3-0 at Stadio San Nicola was an impressive start to this year's cup run, but nearly three months later they now visit another southern side with significant top-flight experience.
Team News
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Amid a tough schedule in Serie A, Lecce are set to make several changes to their starting XI on Wednesday evening, with some key players offered a well-earned rest.
First-choice striker Nikola Krstovic has scored only once in his last six appearances, so Atalanta BC loanee Roberto Piccoli could come in up front, while full-backs Lorenzo Venuti and Patrick Dorgu are also in contention.
Kastriot Dermaku has been struggling with a muscular problem, while Alexis Blin remains ruled out by a foot injury, but Roberto D'Aversa should have the rest of his squad available as he meets his old club.
Parma, meanwhile, will hope Brazilian midfielder Hernani can recover from a fever that ruled him out of Saturday's 3-1 win over Ascoli; Wylan Cyprien recently returned to full training, but Botond Balogh is doubtful due to an ankle injury.
Romania international Dennis Man has netted five times in eight Serie B matches so far this season, in addition to his goal in the Coppa Italia first round, and he should support either ex-Malmo striker Antonio Colak or French forward Ange-Yoan Bonny in attack.
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Venuti, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Dorgu; Ramadani, Kaba, Oudin; Strefezza, Piccoli, Sansone
Parma possible starting lineup:
Chichizola; Del Prato, Osorio, Circati, Ansaldi; Bernabe, Estevez; Man, Sohm, Benedyczak; Colak
We say: Lecce 2-1 Parma
Lecce have struggled for goals of late, but a change of personnel could help them recover their poise in the final third. Under Fabio Pecchia, Parma rarely concede more than once, but their hosts have some skilful forwards that can open up the Gialloblu's back line.
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Jonathan O'Shea
