Lecce vs AS Roma Predicted Lineups: Team News for Serie A Clash

Lecce welcome AS Roma to Stadio Via del Mare in the second round of the 2026 Serie A season, with both sides looking to build on perfect starts. Lecce sit 5th with 3 points after an impressive 2–0 away win on the opening weekend, while Roma are 2nd, also on 3 points, thanks to a dominant 4–0 home victory. With both teams yet to concede, this is an early-season test of credentials between a Europa League-chasing Lecce and a Roma side targeting the Champions League places again.

Recent history between these clubs has been one-sided in Roma’s favour, but Lecce’s strong start and home advantage make this a more intriguing contest than the head-to-head record suggests. With no official lineups available yet, this preview focuses on analytically driven predicted lineups, using squad lists, absences, and early-season key performers to project the most likely starting lineup and tactical approach for both sides.

Both teams come into this clash with a “W” in their league form and clean sheets on the board. The predicted lineups point to Lecce maintaining a balanced, hard-working structure, while Roma are expected to lean on their explosive attacking talents. The battle at Via del Mare should be a fascinating contrast of styles, with Roma’s individual quality set against Lecce’s organisation and intensity.

Lecce Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Lecce’s early-season momentum is tempered slightly by issues on the left flank. Lameck Banda is ruled out as a missing fixture (inactive), while Antonino Gallo is listed as questionable with an injury. Both are part of the defensive and wide options, so their status directly influences how Lecce can set up in wide areas and in transition. Otherwise, no additional significant problems are reported, allowing the coach to retain the core that delivered a 2–0 away win and a clean sheet.

With a league form string of “W” and one clean sheet already, Lecce are expected to stick close to the attacking-minded shape that produced 2 goals away from home, but with a compact defensive block against stronger opposition. The expected approach is to protect the back line, use a hard-working midfield anchored by Lassana Coulibaly, and rely on pace and direct running from the forward line to threaten Roma on the break. The predicted lineups today for Lecce therefore emphasise continuity, with only forced changes where absences demand it.

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; M. Kaba
FW: K. N’Dri; N. Štulić

This predicted starting lineup keeps Wladimiro Falcone in goal as the experienced option, protected by a back line built around Kialonda Gaspar, Cian Ndaba and Jannik Siebert, with Danilo Veiga providing energy on the flank. At the base of midfield, Lassana Coulibaly is central after a standout first match: he logged an assist, 29 completed passes, 2 tackles and 2 interceptions, underlining his importance in ball recovery and progression. Olaf Gorter, who already has 1 goal and a solid rating, offers a forward-running threat from midfield, while Omer Gandelman and Mamadou Kaba add work rate and physical presence.

Up front, K. N’Dri and N. Štulić are expected to lead the line. N’Dri provides direct running and depth in behind, while Štulić offers a focal point to hold the ball and bring midfielders into play. From the bench, Tiago Gabriel is a major card: the defender already has 1 goal from just 16 minutes this season, and his aerial threat on set pieces could be decisive later in the game. With Banda unavailable and Gallo doubtful, Lecce may lean more on central combinations and late-arriving midfield runners than on traditional wing play.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AS Roma travel south in excellent early form but with two notable absences in midfield. M. Bah is ruled out with a knee injury, and captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is also missing due to a thigh injury. Both are listed as missing fixtures, which removes two key midfield options from the selection pool and forces the coach to rely more heavily on Bryan Cristante and the younger midfielders. Despite these setbacks, Roma’s squad depth, particularly in attack, remains strong.

Roma’s league form is also “W”, with a 4–0 home win, and their last-five metrics show 4 goals scored and none conceded. The expected tactical approach is an attacking-minded shape similar to their previous outing, built around a dynamic front line and creative support between the lines. The lineups today are likely to feature the same core that delivered that big win: Paulo Dybala as the main creator, Donyell Malen as the primary goal threat, and a solid defensive platform behind them. Given their historical dominance over Lecce and their strong attacking indices, Roma will be expected to take the initiative from the start.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

Mile Svilar is expected to keep his place in goal after Roma’s opening clean sheet, with a back line anchored by Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso. Hermoso already features prominently in the disciplinary stats, with 1 yellow card and a place among both the top yellow and top red card indices, reflecting his aggressive, front-foot defending style. Nahuel Molina and Evan Ndicka are projected to provide width and ball progression from full-back or wide defensive roles.

In midfield, Bryan Cristante should be the main pivot, supported by N. El Aynaoui and Niccolò Pisilli. Pisilli made an eye-catching impact off the bench in Roma’s first match, scoring 1 goal with 1 shot on target, 10 completed passes and a 7.9 rating in just 11 minutes. His inclusion in the predicted starting lineup reflects that impact and the need to compensate for Pellegrini’s absence with energy and late runs into the box.

The front three is built around elite attacking output. Donyell Malen is currently Serie A’s leading scorer with 3 goals from 4 shots (3 on target) and a perfect 10 rating. Paulo Dybala tops the assist charts with 3 assists, 41 completed passes and 4 key passes in his first match, underlining his role as Roma’s creative hub. Matías Soulé is projected to complete the attacking trio, offering dribbling and one-versus-one ability to stretch Lecce’s back line. With Malen’s finishing and Dybala’s chance creation, Roma’s expected starting lineup is clearly geared towards sustaining high attacking output.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The absences on both sides are concentrated in key structural positions and could subtly reshape the match dynamic. Lecce lose a major outlet in Lameck Banda and have doubts over Antonino Gallo, which may reduce their natural width and speed on the left, pushing them towards a more central and set-piece-oriented threat. Roma, meanwhile, are without M. Bah and Lorenzo Pellegrini in midfield, forcing them to redistribute creative and leadership responsibilities, particularly in central areas.

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

From a tactical perspective, this contest sets up as Lecce’s disciplined block and transitional threat against Roma’s high-gear attacking machine. Lecce’s early-season numbers show 2 goals scored and none conceded, with their goals arriving between minutes 46–60 and 76–90, suggesting a team that grows into games and can strike late. Coulibaly’s ball-winning and Gorter’s forward runs give Lecce a platform to break quickly once possession is regained, particularly targeting spaces behind Roma’s advanced wing-backs or wide defenders.

Roma’s offensive metrics are even more imposing: 4 goals scored, none conceded, with goals spread across early and mid-second-half periods (16–30, 46–60, 76–90). With Dybala leading the assist charts and Malen already on 3 goals, Roma’s expected lineup is built to overload Lecce’s defensive line. The wide areas will be critical: Lecce’s predicted back four and narrow midfield must cope with Dybala drifting into half-spaces, Malen attacking the channels, and Soulé stretching the field. If Lecce’s full-backs are pinned back, their ability to support counters will be reduced, placing extra pressure on N’Dri and Štulić to hold the ball and win fouls high up the pitch.

Another key battle lies in central midfield. Without Pellegrini and Bah, Roma lean heavily on Cristante’s positional discipline and Pisilli’s energy. Lecce’s trio of Coulibaly, Gorter and Gandelman can challenge Roma physically and attempt to disrupt their rhythm. However, Roma’s comparison indices underline their superiority: the overall comparison index stands at roughly 74.8 for Roma against 25.3 for Lecce, with Roma also leading the attack index by 67 to 33. Head-to-head indices are even more lopsided, with Roma dominating previous meetings. For Lecce, success will depend on maintaining compactness, winning second balls, and maximising set pieces, where Tiago Gabriel has already shown his threat.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All indicators point to AS Roma entering this fixture as clear favourites, despite some important absences. The win probability model gives Roma a 45% chance of victory, with a 45% chance of a draw and only 10% for a Lecce win. Roma’s comparison indices, head-to-head dominance, and the explosive form of Malen and Dybala further reinforce their status as the stronger side. Lecce’s solid start and home advantage should not be discounted, but over 90 minutes Roma’s attacking depth is likely to tell.

The pre-match odds also back this view. Away prices for Roma range from 1.47 to 1.59, implying an approximate winning probability between about 62.9% and 68.0%. Home odds on Lecce sit roughly between 5.90 and 7.10 (around 14.1%–17.0% implied), with the draw between 3.61 and 4.14 (about 24.2%–27.7%). Combined with the prediction model’s advice of “Combo Winner: AS Roma and over 2.5 goals”, the expectation is that Roma will find a way through, even if Lecce make it competitive.

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 Serie A rights holder / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports pay-TV channel or Serie A streaming partner
• USA / North America: Dedicated soccer streaming service carrying Serie A
• South America: Regional sports network with Serie A rights
• MENA: Pan-regional sports broadcaster or Serie A OTT platform