Serie A’s lowest-scoring frontline meets the league’s strongest defence, as Lecce host Roma in Round 19, with both sides needing immediate results.
Lecce achieved a significant result away at Juventus through full-on defence and a great dose of luck. The Giallorossi shocked the Old Lady with a first-half goal and then defended desperately until the end of the match.
Lecce have won only four of their 17 league games this season, and all four wins came against teams from the bottom half of the table.
Although we are only halfway through the season, it is already difficult to consider Roma as one of the title contenders. Their early surge was impressive, but the four losses in their last six games changed the picture dramatically.
Worse still, the Wolves lost their last three away games in the league, scoring only one goal. Their latest defeat was against Atalanta, although statistically, they performed better in the match.
How the bookies view it: Roma to put an end to their away struggles
Despite their accumulated losses, bookmakers still believe that Roma are huge favourites in this match and are giving them a huge advantage in the odds. At the moment, you can back Lecce at 9/2, a draw at 12/5, or Roma to win at 3/4.
Recent head-to-head: Devastatingly one-sided
Previous results in this clash can at least give Gian Piero Gasperini and his team some peace of mind. Lecce can “boast” only one win in their last 35 games against Roma, which came in 2012.
The Wolves won both matches last season and have conceded in only two of their last five trips to Lecce.
Players to watch: Soule needs help
Scoring goals has been Roma's main problem this season, with none of their players shining in the final third.
Young discovery Matias Soule is the only Wolves player to have scored at least five goals in the league, while also contributing with assists. He has been involved in four goals in his last five games, although he can also be inconspicuous on the pitch on a bad day.
You definitely need to be careful with player bets in this match.
Probable line-ups
Lecce: Falcone, Veiga, Gaspar, Gabriel, Gallo, Kaba, Ramadani, Pierotti, Helgason, Banda, Stulic
Roma: Svilar, Celik, Ziolkowski, Ghilardi, Rensch, Kone, Cristante, Wesley, Soule, Dybala, Ferguson
Anything else catch the eye?
Roma's positive H2H record against Lecce is the only positive we can note ahead of this match. Well, we can also add the fact that Lecce are the lowest-scoring team in the league with only 12 goals in 17 games.
Roma cannot afford any more mistakes if they want to remain in the title race or even in the Top 4. We do not expect a high-scoring match, but rather a tough battle in midfield and a narrow 0-1 victory for Roma.
As long as the Wolves can minimize their mistakes, Lecce shouldn't have many chances to score, so BTTS-No is also a good option.
Think both sides will find the net? Our BTTS Masterclass explains how to spot the fixtures where goals are a given.
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