As the Serie A season enters its 24th round, Lecce welcome in-form Bologna to the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare on Sunday. This match presents an intriguing contrast between a team fighting to stay clear of relegation and another pushing for European qualification.
Lecce, currently 14th in the table, come into this fixture with renewed confidence after a crucial 3-1 away victory against Parma last weekend. This win, which saw Nikola Krstovic and Santiago Pierotti (twice) overturn a 1-0 deficit, lifted the Giallorossi three points clear of the relegation zone. However, their home form remains a concern, with Lecce winless in their last three matches at the Via del Mare.
Bologna, on the other hand, are riding a wave of excellent form. Unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions, the Rossoblu sit 7th in the Serie A table, just three points behind 6th-placed Juventus and five points off the Champions League spots. Their recent success includes a notable Coppa Italia victory over Atalanta, securing a semi-final berth for the first time in 26 years.
The historical record heavily favours Bologna in this fixture. The Rossoblu are unbeaten in their last eight Serie A encounters with Lecce, winning six of those matches. This dominance is part of a broader trend, with Bologna’s 10-match unbeaten run against Lecce being their second-longest active streak against any current Serie A team.
Lecce manager Marco Giampaolo is likely to set up his team in a 4-3-3 formation, with Krstovic leading the line flanked by Pierotti and Jasper Karlsson. The midfield trio of Helgason, Ramadani, and Pierret will be crucial in both supporting attacks and shielding the defense.
Bologna’s Vincenzo Italiano, known for his attacking philosophy, is expected to maintain a 4-2-3-1 system. The absence of Orsolini and Odgaard could see Castro leading the line, supported by a creative trio of Ndoye, Fabbian, and Dominguez. The double pivot of Freuler and Moro will be key in controlling the tempo of the game.
Team News
Lecce’s hopes will largely rest on the shoulders of Nikola Krstovic. The striker has been crucial for the Giallorossi this season, with his three game-winning goals putting him behind only Romelu Lukaku and Che Adams in that category across Serie A. However, Lecce will be without several players due to injuries, including Filip Marchwinski, Hamza Rafia, Kialonda Gaspar, and Lameck Banda.
Bologna face potential absences of their own, with doubts over the availability of key attackers Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard. If both miss out, the goalscoring burden will fall to Santiago Castro, Benjamin Dominguez, and Dan Ndoye. The Rossoblu will also be without Lewis Ferguson, further limiting their options in midfield.
Expected Starting XIs
Lecce: Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Gallo; Helgason, Ramadani, Pierret; Pierotti, Krstovic, Karlsson
Bologna: Ravaglia; Calabria, Erlic, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler, Moro; Ndoye, Fabbian, Dominguez; Castro
Match Prediction
Given Bologna’s strong form and historical dominance in this fixture, they enter as favourites. However, Lecce’s desperation to secure points in their fight against relegation, coupled with their recent away victory, suggests they won’t be pushovers. The potential absence of key attackers for Bologna could level the playing field somewhat. Lecce’s home crowd will also play a factor, potentially spurring the Giallorossi to raise their game.
Prediction: Lecce 1-2 Bologna
