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

Both sides were promoted from Serie B last season, and they have clearly found it tough to adjust to the step-up in the early weeks of the campaign.

Match preview

Two points from five matches may not represent the start Marco Baroni would have wanted to make having guided his side to the Serie B title last season, but the 58-year-old will take slight satisfaction from his side at least being competitive in all of those matches.

Indeed, their 1-0 defeat to Torino on Monday was their third defeat by a solitary goal, having impressively drawn 1-1 away to Napoli in their previous match in the high point of their season so far.

Former West Ham United midfielder Nikola Vlasic's 40th-minute strike proved to be the difference for Torino, with the Croatian running onto a clever through ball before catching Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone by surprise with a first-time left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

In truth, Baroni's side never looked likely to find an equaliser thereafter, with the former Benevento boss hoping his players will show their offensive capabilities against a fellow struggling side on Sunday.

Competing in Serie A for the first time in their history following being promoted via Serie B's play-offs last season, Monza have severely struggled to adapt at this level with five defeats from five matches so far.

Despite Silvio Berlusconi's ownership of the club helping them sign several high-profile players on loan during the summer - including Arsenal's Pablo Mari, Inter Milan's Stefano Sensi and Atalanta's Matteo Pessina - there has been a distinct lack of cohesion in the early weeks of their campaign.

Monza have conceded nine goals against Roma, Napoli and Atalanta combined with no reply, while 2-1 defeats at home to Torino and Udinese have placed head coach Giovanni Stroppa under significant pressure to quickly improve results.

With their relegation rivals Cremonese picking up their first point of the season last weekend, Monza will desperately be hoping to move off the foot of the table with a first ever victory at this level against Lecce on Sunday.

Lecce Serie A form:

Lecce form (all competitions):

Monza Serie A form:

Monza form (all competitions):

Team News

Lecce will remain without Mert Cetin, Kastriot Dermaku, Gabriel Strefezza and Joel Voelkerling Persson due to injury on Sunday, while Federico Brancolini is out with a virus.

Baroni made five changes for last weekend's defeat to Torino due to the short turnaround in matches, but he could restore the likes of Giuseppe Pezzella and Lorenzo Colombo to the starting XI having watched them both impress in the draw away to Napoli.

Monza, meanwhile, will travel without experienced defenders Mari and Andrea Ranocchia, which does not help their cause of preventing a sixth successive defeat.

Mari picked up an abdominal injury during Monday's defeat to Atalanta and could be replaced by Andrea Carboni, while Marco D'Alessandro is out with a similar issue.

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Gendrey, Tuia, Baschirotto, Pezzella; Hjulmand, Helgason, Askildsen; Di Francesco, Colombo, Banda

Monza possible starting lineup:

Di Gregorio; Marlon, Carboni, Caldirola; Birindelli, Pessina, Rovella, Sensi, Augusto; Petagna, Caprari

We say: Lecce 1-1 Monza

Neither side have scored many goals so far this season, and we would not be surprised if it is a low-scoring draw on Sunday between two teams low on confidence.

The visitors would likely take that outcome to put a stop to their losing streak, as they attempt to gain belief that they can compete at this level.

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