Preview: Salernitana vs. Lecce - prediction, team news, lineups

Fabio Liverani has been unable to mastermind a turnaround since replacing Filippo Inzaghi in February, and he faces a new man at the helm of this weekend's opponents, with Luca Gotti taking charge after Roberto D'Aversa's dismissal.

Match preview

Salernitana have been bottom in Serie A since gameweek 10, and time seems to be running out for the Granata, who remain 11 points from safety with 10 games to play.

Liverani took over on February 11 but has picked up one point from an available 12, a disappointing return considering his team have played Monza, Udinese and Cagliari, getting a point in in Udine despite playing against 10 men for the final 30 minutes.

Salernitana have picked up just two victories all season, with 13th-placed Udinese closest to the league's bottom side, and their one home triumph in 14 attempts and four draws leave them on seven points, three fewer than Empoli (10).

Considering history, the Granata are unlikely to survive the drop, with none of the 22 clubs to have only two league wins after 28 matches escaping relegation.

It remains to be seen if Liverani's troops buck that trend, but performances and results must improve to give themselves a chance.

As for Lecce, relegation remains a possibility for a side that have picked up five points in 2024 — only this weekend's opponent (two points) have fewer.

Gotti takes charge of his first match, keen to end the Salentini's run without an away victory in 2023-24, an unwanted record they share with Frosinone, another winless side in road games.

The away side's lack of goals have been a bugbear all season — only Empoli (22) and Salernitana (23) have netted fewer than Lecce's 25 — with the Giallorossi firing blanks in four of their last five league fixtures.

That gives the travelling fans little hope in extending Salernitana's losing home run to six, but something has to give in this fixture between two of Serie A's off-form clubs.

Gotti's 16th-placed side could slip into the bottom three this weekend, as they are level with Empoli, a point ahead of 18th-placed Frosinone and two ahead of second-bottom Sassuolo.

Salernitana Serie A form:

D

L

L

L

D

L

Lecce Serie A form:

W

L

L

L

D

L

Team News

Grigoris Kastanos is suspended for one game after accumulating yellow cards.

Jerome Boateng and Niccolo Pierozzi are expected to be out for another fortnight, while Norbert Gyomber's groin injury could keep him out until next month.

Antonio Candreva, currently on 84 goals and 85 assists in Serie A, could become the fifth midfielder to record both 85 goals and 85 assists in Europe's top-five leagues in the last 15 seasons, along with Kevin De Bruyne, Angel Di Maria, Marco Reus and Dimitri Payet if he scores on Saturday.

Lameck Banda is absent for Lecce this weekend after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Hellas Verona.

Mohamed Kaba, Federico Brancolini and Kastriot Dermaku are out this weekend with knee injuries.

Wladimiro Falcone has not missed a minute of Serie A action this term, and the Lecce goalkeeper should keep his place in the team against Salernitana.

Salernitana possible starting lineup:

Ochoa; Zanoli, Manolas, Fazio, Bradaric; Basic, Coulibaly, Maggiore; Candreva; Weissman, Tchaouna

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Pongracic, Gallo; Gonzalez, Ramadani, Oudin; Almqvist, Krstovic, Sansone

We say: Salernitana 0-0 Lecce

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