Lecce vs AS Roma Predicted Lineups: Team News and Match Preview

Lecce host AS Roma at Stadio Via del Mare in the second round of the 2026 Serie A season, with both sides coming into the game on the back of opening-day wins. Lecce sit 5th with 3 points and a +2 goal difference after a 2–0 away victory, while Roma are 2nd with 3 points and a +4 goal difference following a dominant 4–0 home success. That early table context underlines how competitive this fixture could be, even if Roma arrive as clear favourites.

Head-to-head history is heavily tilted towards AS Roma, who have consistently found ways to beat Lecce in recent seasons. However, Lecce’s strong defensive start and improving squad depth mean this is not a foregone conclusion, especially in front of their own fans. With both teams in winning form (league form string: W vs W), predicted lineups and the balance of the starting lineup on each side will be crucial in deciding whether Lecce can disrupt Roma’s early momentum.

This pre‑match analysis focuses on predicted lineups rather than official team sheets, using current squad lists, injuries and early‑season key player stats to build an expected starting lineup for both Lecce and AS Roma ahead of this Serie A clash.

Lecce Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Lecce arrive in good spirits after an impressive opening‑day win, but they do have issues in wide areas. L. Banda is listed as a missing fixture (inactive) and therefore not expected to feature, removing one of their more dynamic attacking options. A. Gallo is marked as questionable with an injury, which could affect their options at full-back if he is not passed fit. Aside from these concerns, the core of the squad looks available, and the league form of W underlines a confident start.

Stats suggest Lecce used an attack-minded shape in their first game, scoring twice and keeping a clean sheet. They are likely to remain compact without the ball but look to break quickly, especially through midfield runners. With that in mind, the expected approach will lean on stability at the back and energy in midfield, while the coaching staff will try to integrate their early top scorers and creators into the predicted lineups today.

Lecce Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: W. Falcone
DF: Kialonda Gaspar; C. Ndaba; J. Siebert; Danilo Veiga
MF: L. Coulibaly; Olaf Gorter; O. Gandelman; S. Fofana
FW: N. Štulić; K. N’Dri

This predicted starting lineup for Lecce is built around a solid defensive core and the midfielders who have already made a statistical impact. In defence, Kialonda Gaspar, C. Ndaba, J. Siebert and Danilo Veiga provide a mix of physicality and mobility, while W. Falcone is the natural choice in goal. At the other end of the pitch, N. Štulić and K. N’Dri offer a blend of penalty‑box presence and pace in advanced areas.

In midfield, L. Coulibaly is a clear key figure. He has already registered an assist this season, with 2 key passes and strong duel numbers, marking him out as Lecce’s main link between defence and attack. Olaf Gorter is another standout: he has scored once from midfield and contributed both defensively (a block) and in possession, so he should be central to any attacking thrust from deep. Around them, O. Gandelman and S. Fofana add legs and balance. From the bench, Tiago Gabriel and Hjalte Laerke could again be impactful options; Tiago Gabriel in particular has already scored and impressed in limited minutes, and his versatility in defence makes him an important part of the wider matchday squad even if he does not start.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AS Roma travel to Lecce after a statement 4–0 home win on the opening weekend, a result that has put them 2nd in Serie A with a perfect defensive and attacking record so far. However, they must cope without two midfielders: M. Bah is ruled out as a missing fixture with a knee injury, and captain L. Pellegrini is also listed as a missing fixture due to a thigh injury. Those absences remove two central options from the squad and will influence how the manager structures the midfield and attacking lines in the lineups today.

Even so, Roma’s attacking firepower is in excellent shape. D. Malen is the league’s early top scorer with 3 goals, while P. Dybala leads the assists chart with 3, underlining the potency of their forward line. The team’s league form is W, with 4 goals scored and none conceded, and their typical setup has been an attacking‑minded shape using three central defenders and aggressive support from wide players. That pattern is expected to continue, with only minor adjustments to compensate for the injuries in midfield.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Svilar
DF: Hermoso; G. Mancini; E. Ndicka; N. Molina
MF: B. Cristante; N. El Aynaoui; N. Pisilli
FW: P. Dybala; D. Malen; M. Soulé

Roma’s predicted starting lineup is built around the spine that delivered the 4–0 win. In goal, M. Svilar is the most established option. At the back, Hermoso, G. Mancini and E. Ndicka provide a strong central defensive unit, with N. Molina offering width and forward thrust from deep. Hermoso also appears in both the top yellow cards and top red cards lists, signalling his aggressive defensive style and leadership at the back.

In midfield, B. Cristante is the natural anchor, with N. El Aynaoui and N. Pisilli adding energy and forward runs. Pisilli has already scored once and produced a key pass in just 11 minutes of action, suggesting he can be a real box‑to‑box threat if given a starting role to help offset the absence of L. Pellegrini. Further forward, the trio of P. Dybala, D. Malen and M. Soulé looks devastating on paper. Dybala has already delivered 3 assists and 4 key passes, orchestrating play between the lines, while Malen’s 3 goals from 4 shots on target make him Roma’s primary finisher. M. Soulé completes the attacking trident as a creative wide forward who can stretch the Lecce defence and create space for Malen and Dybala to exploit.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The absences on both sides are concentrated in midfield and wide roles, which will subtly reshape how each team can press and transition. Lecce lose a major outlet in L. Banda, while Roma are without two central midfielders who would normally feature heavily in ball progression and chance creation.

Lecce Absences:

• L. Banda — Inactive (Missing Fixture)
• A. Gallo — Injury (Questionable)

AS Roma Absences:

• M. Bah — Knee Injury (Missing Fixture)
• L. Pellegrini — Thigh Injury (Missing Fixture)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

Tactically, this game sets up as Lecce’s compact defensive block and industrious midfield against Roma’s high‑quality attacking unit. Lecce’s predicted back line of Kialonda Gaspar, C. Ndaba, J. Siebert and Danilo Veiga will need to stay narrow and well‑organised to deal with the central threat of D. Malen and the drifting movements of P. Dybala. With Roma’s overall comparison index strongly in their favour (the comparison model rates Roma significantly higher in attack), Lecce are likely to focus on reducing space between the lines and forcing Roma into wide areas where they can double up defensively.

In midfield, the battle between L. Coulibaly and Olaf Gorter on one side and B. Cristante plus N. Pisilli on the other will be decisive. Coulibaly’s ability to win duels and drive forward with the ball is vital for Lecce’s transitions, especially given the absence of L. Banda. Gorter’s goal threat from midfield offers an additional dimension if Lecce can sustain pressure in Roma’s half. For Roma, Cristante’s distribution and positioning will underpin their structure, allowing the more advanced midfielders and forwards to take risks. Pisilli’s late runs from midfield will test Lecce’s tracking, particularly around the edge of the box. Out wide, N. Molina’s overlaps and M. Soulé’s dribbling will stretch Lecce’s defensive shape, potentially opening central channels for Malen to attack. Roma’s form indices for attack and goals strongly suggest they will create more chances over 90 minutes, while Lecce’s early defensive numbers indicate they can at least make those chances harder to come by than Roma’s last opponent.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Both teams are in winning form, but squad strength, head‑to‑head history and attacking metrics all lean clearly towards AS Roma. The prediction model gives Lecce only a 10% chance to win, with the draw and Roma victory each rated at 45%. Roma also hold a strong lead in the overall comparison index, especially in attacking output, and they have dominated recent meetings, regularly scoring multiple goals while conceding few.

Pre‑match odds back up that view. Across major bookmakers, Roma’s price ranges from 1.47 to 1.59, implying an approximate winning probability between about 63% and 68%, while Lecce are generally priced between 5.90 and 7.10 (roughly 14–17% implied probability). The draw sits around 3.61 to 4.14, corresponding to roughly 24–28%. With Roma’s early‑season front line of D. Malen and P. Dybala in outstanding form and Lecce missing L. Banda, the most likely scenario is Roma controlling territory and chance creation, even if Lecce’s organisation and work rate keep the scoreline respectable.

Predicted Outcome: Lecce 1–2 AS Roma

How to Watch Lecce vs AS Roma Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local pay-TV football channel / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports broadcaster with Serie A rights
• USA / North America: Subscription-based soccer streaming service
• South America: Regional sports network and online platform
• MENA: Satellite sports network with Serie A coverage