Both with four points from as many Serie A matches so far, Lecce and Parma will lock horns at Stadio Via del Mare on Saturday evening.

While the hosts have recently recovered from starting with back-to-back defeats, their Emilian counterparts have twice let leads slip to end up empty-handed.

Match preview

© Imago

Building on a 1-0 victory over Cagliari just before the international break, Lecce held in-form Torino to a goalless draw last week, without conceding a single shot on target.

That result continued their upturn, after being beaten by Atalanta BC and reigning champions Inter Milan during a tough start to the 2024-25 schedule.

However, Luca Gotti's side are still short of threat in the final third, and stretching back to the end of last season, they have scored just one goal in seven Serie A matches - Nikola Krstovic's winner against Cagliari.

Since their previous top-flight strike - back on 13 May - no other team throughout Europe's top five leagues has scored so few, so Kristovic and co will be under pressure to produce this weekend.

The Salentini did score twice in last month's season-opening Coppa Italia win over Mantova, so they can look forward to a second-round tie against Sassuolo on Tuesday, before meeting AC Milan at San Siro three days later.

At least history suggests they should find the net against Parma, as each of the clubs' last eight encounters at Via del Mare have seen both teams score - with a healthy average of 3.6 goals per game.

© Imago

By contrast with their hosts, Parma have not struggled to score so far this season, instead failing to hold onto precious leads and seeing points slip through their fingers as a result.

The Crociati would actually top the table if matches ended at half time, having been ahead in all four of their league games since returning to the top flight.

After goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was sent off and they turned three points into none against Napoli, Fabio Pecchia's side lost their discipline again on Monday evening, when they were beaten at home by surprise Serie A leaders Udinese.

First-half goals from Enrico Del Prato and Yoan Bonny put the Emilians in control at Stadio Tardini, but Mandela Keita was given his marching orders soon after the scoreline was levelled at 2-2; Florian Thauvin then scored Udinese's winner.

Pecchia has fielded the youngest team on average this term, so perhaps such lapses are inevitable, but Parma cannot afford to keep gifting points to opponents if they are to stay afloat in the top flight.

Team News

© Imago

Lecce can recall Patrick Dorgu this weekend, following a one-match suspension for being sent off against Cagliari, and the versatile Denmark international should feature on the hosts' left flank; Ante Rebic may therefore be demoted to the bench.

Mohamed Kaba, Medon Berisha and Lameck Banda are all ruled out by injury, but Luca Gotti will have all of his other players available.

Starting up front, Nikola Krstovic has attempted the most shots (21) and had the most attempts on target (nine) in Serie A this season, but the Montenegrin striker has scored only one goal thus far.

Meanwhile, Parma's main marksman Yoan Bonny has already found the net twice and provided one assist, and the 20-year-old frontman will lead his team's attack again at Via del Mare.

First-choice goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is back from a ban, but Mandela Keita is now suspended following his red card last week; Emanuele Valeri, Nahuel Estevez and Adrian Benedyczak are still sidelined by injury.

As Valentin Mihaila limped out of the loss to Udinese, Matteo Cancellieri is likely to continue on the left wing, with Dennis Man starting on the right.

Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Pierret; Morente, Rafia, Dorgu; Krstovic

Parma possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Del Prato, Balogh, Circati, Coulibaly; Bernabe, Hernani; Man, Sohm, Cancellieri; Bonny

We say: Lecce 1-2 Parma

Parma have conceded goals in each of their last 27 Serie A away games - the longest ongoing streak without a clean sheet on the road - and Lecce may take advantage of their naivety to extend that run.

However, the Crociati have been pretty impressive since returning to Italy's top tier, and this time they can retain a lead and take three points back to Emilia-Romagna.


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

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email