Roma head south on Tuesday evening in urgent need of a response, as a difficult start to 2026 leaves their Champions League ambitions under increasing strain. A trip to the Stadio Via del Mare might appear routine on paper, but Lecce’s recent resilience, combined with Roma’s growing inconsistency, ensures this will be anything but straightforward.
The Giallorossi arrive off the back of another narrow defeat, their fourth loss in five league outings, which has seen them slip further behind Serie A’s top four. Saturday’s trip to Bergamo carried added significance, marking Gian Piero Gasperini’s return to Atalanta as Roma head coach. However, sentiment quickly gave way to frustration as Roma once again fell short. A rare error from usually reliable goalkeeper Mile Svilar proved costly, and despite Paulo Dybala squandering their clearest chance, the capital club lacked the cutting edge to recover.
That 1–0 defeat was Roma’s sixth loss by the same scoreline this season, a statistic that underlines their struggles in the final third. Gasperini did little to soften the message afterward, openly criticising his attacking players for failing to convert dominance into goals. With speculation mounting around potential January reinforcements, including reported interest in Giacomo Raspadori and Joshua Zirkzee, pressure is building on Roma’s forwards to deliver immediate improvement.
Before any transfer business can materialise, Roma must halt their slide in the standings. Upcoming fixtures against Sassuolo, Torino and Lecce offer an opportunity to reset, and history suggests this particular matchup has often been kind to them. Roma have dominated the head-to-head record, winning 26 of 38 Serie A meetings and losing just twice. Lecce, by contrast, have not beaten Roma in the league since April 2012.
Yet Lecce approach this contest with renewed belief. Saturday’s 1–1 draw away to Juventus was a display built on discipline, resilience, and no small amount of fortune. After Lameck Banda gave them a first-half lead with a rare moment of attacking precision, the Salentini were forced into survival mode for much of the match. They conceded heavy possession and wave after wave of pressure, but Wladimiro Falcone’s penalty save and the woodwork helped them cling on for a valuable point.
That result extended Lecce’s most encouraging spell of the season. Seven points from their last five matches have lifted Eusebio Di Francesco’s side further clear of the relegation zone and injected belief into a squad previously short on confidence. While their attacking output remains limited, Banda’s strike in Turin was their only shot on target, Lecce are showing a growing ability to suffer and stay competitive. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Lecce welcome Roma to Salento with several absentees still limiting Eusebio Di Francesco’s options in attack. Mergim Berisha, Riccardo Sottil, and Tété Morente all remain sidelined through injury, reducing depth in wide and central attacking areas. In midfield, Lassana Coulibaly is unavailable as he continues international duty with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, depriving Lecce of an experienced ball-winner in the centre of the pitch.
There is, however, some continuity from the impressive draw against Juventus. Lameck Banda and Kialonda Gaspar both returned to action last weekend after their respective national teams exited AFCON, and their availability is a boost at both ends of the pitch. Given Lecce’s disciplined performance in Turin, Di Francesco is unlikely to make wholesale changes. In attack, goals remain a concern: Nikola Stulic has struggled to find consistency, while Francesco Camarda, on loan from AC Milan, failed to make a significant impact despite starting against Juventus and may now drop out of the XI.
From a tactical standpoint, Lecce are expected to retain a 4-2-3-1 formation, prioritising compactness and defensive organisation while looking to strike selectively on the counter. Wladimiro Falcone should start in goal, having been decisive in recent weeks. The back four is likely to consist of Daniel Veiga at right-back, Gaspar and Tiago Gabriel as the central defensive pairing, and Antonino Gallo operating from left-back.
In midfield, Mohamed Kaba is expected to partner Ylber Ramadani in the double pivot, with Ramadani tasked with dictating tempo and screening the defence. Ahead of them, Santiago Pierotti should operate on the right, Thorir Johan Helgason in the central attacking role, and Lameck Banda on the left, providing Lecce’s primary outlet for pace and direct running. Leading the line, Nikola Stulic is likely to retain his place as the lone striker, charged with occupying Roma’s centre-backs and capitalising on limited chances.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Gabriel, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani; Pierotti, Helgason, Banda; Stulic
Roma head to the Via del Mare with significant disruption at the back, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini facing a selection puzzle. Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso are both suspended after picking up bookings last weekend, ruling them out of this trip. Defensive resources are further stretched by international commitments, with Evan Ndicka still away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast. In midfield, Neil El Aynaoui also remains unavailable due to AFCON duty, compounding the challenge of maintaining balance and continuity.
In other areas, Roma continue to manage fitness concerns. Club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini will miss another match as he recovers from a hamstring strain, while Tommaso Baldanzi and Leon Bailey are both doubts and will be assessed closer to kickoff. Up front, there is genuine competition for the central striker role: Artem Dovbyk has recently returned from a thigh injury and could be ready to start, placing pressure on Evan Ferguson, who has led the line in recent weeks. Paulo Dybala has also been managing form and fitness issues, making Roma’s attacking selection less predictable than usual.
Tactically, Gasperini is expected to persist with a 3-4-2-1 formation, even with personnel changes, to preserve structure and control in central areas. Mile Svilar should continue in goal, providing leadership behind a reshuffled back three that may feature Zeki Celik on the right, Jan Ziolkowski centrally, and Daniele Ghilardi on the left. The wing-back roles are likely to be filled by Devyne Rensch on the right and Wesleyon the left, both tasked with providing width while tracking Lecce’s wide threats.
In midfield, Manu Kone is expected to partner Bryan Cristante, combining ball-winning with distribution to protect the improvised defence. Ahead of them, Matias Soule and Paulo Dybala should operate between the lines, drifting into pockets to create chances and link play. Leading the line, Evan Ferguson is currently favoured to start, though Dovbyk’s availability means Roma could adjust their attacking approach if needed.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Celik, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi; Rensch, Kone, Cristante, Wesley; Soule, Dybala; Ferguson
In a match where Roma are searching for inspiration as much as points, Paulo Dybala remains the player most capable of altering the narrative. While his form has fluctuated in recent weeks, the Argentine’s influence on Roma’s attacking rhythm is difficult to replace, particularly against a Lecce side expected to defend deep and in numbers.
Dybala’s value lies not only in goals, but in how he manipulates space. Operating between the lines, he draws defenders out of position, creating pockets for runners like Matías Soule or the advancing wing-backs. Against compact opponents, that ability to receive on the half-turn and play through tight corridors becomes essential.
There is also a psychological element at play. With Roma misfiring in front of goal and Gasperini openly critical of his forwards, Dybala’s composure and decision-making could steady an anxious side. Even when he is not at peak sharpness, his presence forces Lecce to adjust their defensive focus, often opening space elsewhere.
If Roma are to turn territorial control into a decisive breakthrough, Dybala’s creativity, whether through a moment of individual brilliance or a subtle final pass, is likely to be central to it.
This fixture sets up as a test of patience rather than flair. Lecce arrive with confidence boosted by recent results and will likely adopt a compact, low-risk approach, aiming to frustrate Roma and feed off home support. Roma, meanwhile, carry the burden of recent defeats and a disrupted back line, but they still possess the greater technical quality in advanced areas.
If Roma are to steady themselves, it will likely come through control rather than dominance, managing the tempo, limiting Lecce’s transitions, and relying on moments of quality from players like Paulo Dybala. Lecce’s limited attacking output suggests chances may be scarce at both ends.
