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

Though second-best in a 2-1 defeat to Europa League opponents Real Betis on Thursday, the Giallorossi managed a rare victory over one of their fellow top-four contenders five days earlier at San Siro.

Match preview

The two favourites for Group C supremacy clashed in the Italian capital in midweek, as Roma aimed to prolong a lengthy unbeaten run at home in continental competition and build on success against Inter last weekend.

Not only have Jose Mourinho's men lost only one of their last 11 Serie A home fixtures - the most recent one, against Atalanta - they had also remained without defeat through 20 matches at the Olimpico in Europe; winning 14 times in the process.

That run came to an end, though, as Betis struck back after Paulo Dybala had opened the scoring from a VAR-awarded penalty, and now the Giallorossi's Europa League fate rests heavily on events in next week's return.

Before they travel to Seville, Roma are back in domestic action, having beaten Mourinho's his old club Inter at San Siro last time out in Serie A while the Portuguese coach watched on from the club bus due to a touchline suspension.

Dybala was joined by centre-back Chris Smalling on the scoresheet in Milan, earning three valuable points and a boost in morale, but the capital city club have now failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last four Serie A matches - having not conceded in four of the previous five.

On Sunday evening, Roma will aim to turn over a third opponent freshly promoted from Serie B, having already seen off Monza and Cremonese this season - and they have also won eight of their last nine Serie A meetings with Lecce.

Since causing an upset in their very first away game against Roma in the Italian top flight, back in April 1986, Lecce have failed to win any of the following 15 against their fellow Giallorossi at Stadio Olimpico; losing on 13 occasions.

Marco Baroni's current side now head for the Eternal City on the back of a three-match unbeaten run which has helped them out of the relegation zone and into mid-table.

Last week, Gabriel Strefezza's spot kick pulled the Puglia outfit level against another promoted side, Cremonese, and a point at Stadio Via del Mare followed four from clashes with two other potential relegation rivals: Monza and Salernitana.

Having already held out for a draw away to Napoli earlier this season, Lecce will hope to repeat such a feat now their favourable run of fixtures has come to an end.

In all, they have ended four of their last six league games all-square, and would surely accept the same outcome on Sunday if offered, as their long slog for survival continues.

Roma Serie A form:

D

W

L

W

L

W

Roma form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

L

Lecce Serie A form:

D

D

L

D

W

D

Team News

Returning from his Serie A touchline suspension, Jose Mourinho may once again refresh his starting XI on Sunday, as his team continue to fight on two fronts throughout a packed autumn period.

After relegating last term's top scorer Tammy Abraham to the bench for last week's win over Inter, the England striker returned to the lineup in midweek but failed to impress. Therefore, Andrea Belotti could contend for a place alongside in-form Paulo Dybala up front.

The latter has scored twice in two previous meetings with Lecce and is aiming to find the net for a third league game in a row for the first time since mid-2020.

Dutch pair Georginio Wijnaldum and Rick Karsdorp are long-term absentees, while wing-back Zeki Celik suffered a serious injury on Thursday and will be out of action until next year; Leonardo Spinazzola should return, with Nicola Zalewski shifting to the right flank.

Meanwhile, Lecce only have Kristijan Bistrovic sidelined, so Marco Baroni has an almost full squad from which to choose.

Gabriel Strefezza has scored in his last two outings and should feature in the visitors' front three, led by Assan Ceesay or Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo.

Roma possible starting lineup:

Patricio; Mancini, Kumbulla, Ibanez; Zalewski, Matic, Cristante, Spinazzola; Dybala, Zaniolo; Belotti

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Pezzella; Gonzalez, Hjulmand, Askildsen; Strefezza, Ceesay, Banda

We say: Roma 1-0 Lecce

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