Lecce vs Lazio Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Lecce have massively improved in the last couple of months as they push away from the bottom three ahead of now facing a Lazio side who were humiliated at the Olimpico last weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 21st December, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – Paramount+
Lecce Preview: Luca’s Lecce
Lecce pulled off a mini ‘great escape’ last season following the appointment of Luca Gotti in March but he came under immense pressure a couple of months ago. However, the Apulia-based club have now launched themselves away from the bottom three and the danger zone.
The home team come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat of Monza last weekend thanks to strikes from Tete Morente and Nikola Krstovic. That means they have suffered just two defeats in their last seven matches with their very stubborn and defensive style of football.
Lazio Preview: Licking their wounds
Marco Baroni has performed well as Lazio boss since being appointed over the summer and they will still believe they are in the title race, especially with a 1-0 win over Napoli a couple of weeks ago, but they have suffered defeats either side of that impressive win in Naples.
The visitors most recently suffered a 6-0 annihilation at the hands of defending champions Internazionale in the capital city last weekend thanks to goals from Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram.
Lecce Team News: A few injuries
Lameck Banda is expected to miss this weekend and Lecce have several injuries across the pitch such as midfielder Joan Gonzalez as well as defensive trio Kevin Bonifazi, Antonio Gallo and Kialonda Gaspar.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Dorgu; Coulibaly, Berisha, Rafia; Pierotti, Krstovic, Tete Morente
Unavailable: Bonifazi (Injured), Gallo (Injured), Gaspar (Injured), Joan Gonzalez (Injured), Pierret (Injured)
Questionable: Banda (Injured)
Lazio Team News: Defensive issues
Lazio have a few defensive injury issues for this one with Uruguay international defensive midfielder Matias Vecino sidelined due to a thigh injury alongside defensive trio Samuel Gigot, Alessio Romagnoli and Mario Gila.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Marusic, Patric, Pellegrini, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Pedro, Zaccagni; Noslin
Unavailable: Gigot (Injured), Romagnoli (Injured), Gila (Injured), Matias Vecino (Injured)
Questionable:
Lecce vs Lazio Prediction
In their 16 matches so far this season in Serie A, Lecce have managed to score just ten goals. That is four fewer than anyone else in the division. They have become very steady and rediscovered their effectiveness from the back end of last season. Lazio may well find that difficult to breakdown but after conceding three against Parma and six against Inter, they will also be relieved for a tight game and a tight game that they should still come out on top in.
Lecce vs Lazio Tip: Lazio to win & under 3.5 goals
