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

Lecce and AS Roma meet at Stadio Via del Mare in Round 2 of the 2026 Serie A regular season, with both sides looking to build on perfect starts. Lecce sit 5th with 3 points after an impressive 2-0 away win, while Roma are 2nd, also on 3 points, thanks to a dominant 4-0 home victory. With early European qualification spots already in view, this is a significant benchmark fixture for both clubs.

The visitors arrive as clear favourites on paper, but the league table and recent form show a more nuanced picture. Both teams boast a 100% record so far and have yet to concede a goal. Roma’s attacking firepower, led by standout early-season performers, is expected to test Lecce’s resilience. At the same time, Lecce’s confidence and clean sheet record suggest they will not simply roll over. This context makes the predicted lineups particularly important for understanding how the tactical battle could unfold.

Head-to-head history strongly favours Roma, but Lecce’s improved squad profile and strong opening-day display mean this clash should be far more competitive than some past meetings. With no official lineups yet, the focus is on analytically built predicted lineups and how the expected starting lineup choices from both managers could shape this Serie A encounter.

Lecce Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Lecce come into this match on the back of a 2-0 away win, a result that has them 5th in Serie A with 3 points, 2 goals scored and none conceded. Their league form string stands at “W”, reflecting a perfect start. However, they do have issues in wide areas: L. Banda is listed as missing the fixture due to being inactive, while A. Gallo is questionable with an injury. Both are part of the defensive and attacking balance on the left, so their status is a key storyline for the expected setup.

Given their opening match, Lecce are likely to stick to an energetic, hard-working structure with a compact defensive block and quick transitions. The presence of L. Coulibaly, already on the top assists chart, and goal-scoring contributions from Olaf Gorter and Tiago Gabriel suggest a side capable of threatening from midfield runs and set pieces. The expected approach is conservative without the ball but ambitious on counters, especially given Roma’s attacking strength.

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 lineup leans on the most experienced defensive core available, with Kialonda Gaspar, C. Ndaba, J. Siebert and Danilo Veiga providing height and physicality in the back line ahead of W. Falcone. Tiago Gabriel, who scored and appears in both the top scorers and top assists lists, is a strong candidate to feature heavily; he may start or be used as a high-impact defensive option from the bench, especially in a game where Lecce will have to defend deep for long spells.

In midfield, L. Coulibaly is pivotal. Already among the league’s top assist providers with 1 assist and strong defensive numbers (tackles and interceptions), he is expected to anchor the middle of the pitch, breaking up play and launching counters. Olaf Gorter, also on the top scorers chart with 1 goal, offers late runs into the box and a threat from distance, while O. Gandelman and M. Kaba provide legs and ball-winning ability to match Roma’s technically gifted midfielders.

Up front, K. N’Dri and N. Štulić give Lecce a mix of pace and penalty-box presence. They are expected to work the channels and press Roma’s back line selectively rather than constantly, preserving energy for transitions. With Banda unavailable and Gallo doubtful, Lecce may be slightly less explosive on the flanks, increasing the importance of central combinations and set pieces in their attacking plan.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AS Roma arrive in Lecce with confidence after a 4-0 home win on opening weekend, which has them 2nd in Serie A with 3 points and a +4 goal difference. Their league form is also “W”, and they have yet to concede. The early-season data points to a side that is extremely efficient in attack, averaging 4 goals per game so far. However, there are notable absences: M. Bah is ruled out with a knee injury and influential midfielder L. Pellegrini is missing due to a thigh injury. These losses slightly thin Roma’s midfield depth but do not fundamentally weaken their starting core.

Roma’s lineups today are expected to revolve around the attacking axis that destroyed their first opponent: D. Malen and P. Dybala. Malen is currently Serie A’s top scorer with 3 goals from 1 appearance, while Dybala leads the assists chart with 3 assists. With the team having used an attacking-minded shape in their first league game, featuring three central defenders and advanced wing-backs, a similarly front-footed approach is expected despite the away setting. The main question is how the coach compensates for Pellegrini’s absence in midfield balance.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

Roma’s predicted starting lineup is built around the spine that delivered a 4-0 win. In goal, M. Svilar is the logical choice as the senior shot-stopper, with P. Gollini and G. De Marzi as depth options. At the back, Hermoso, G. Mancini and E. Ndicka form a robust trio. Hermoso, who already features in both the top yellow and top red card lists, brings aggressive front-foot defending and progressive passing; his discipline will be under scrutiny against Lecce’s counters.

In wide areas, N. Molina and D. Rensch are expected to operate as advanced wing-backs or wide midfielders, providing width and delivery to the front three. Centrally, B. Cristante offers positional discipline and distribution, while N. El Aynaoui gives energy and ball-carrying, especially important with L. Pellegrini unavailable. N. Pisilli, who has 1 goal and a strong rating off the bench, is a prime candidate for impact minutes later in the game if Roma need extra creativity.

Up front, the trio of P. Dybala, M. Soulé and D. Malen looks formidable. Dybala, with 3 assists already and 4 key passes in his first outing, is the creative hub between the lines. Malen’s 3 goals from 4 shots underline his clinical edge and vertical threat, while M. Soulé adds dribbling and combination play around the box. Together, they form one of the most dangerous attacking units in Serie A at this early stage, and Lecce’s back line will have to be near-perfect to contain them.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences on both sides subtly reshape the tactical options without completely overhauling either team’s core identity. Lecce’s issues are concentrated on the left flank, while Roma’s are in central midfield and depth options. No suspensions are listed, so all unavailable players are out through injury or inactivity.

Lecce Absences:

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

AS Roma Absences:

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

For Lecce, Banda’s confirmed absence removes a direct, pacey outlet in attack, forcing greater reliance on K. N’Dri, N. Štulić and potentially Paco Esteban or W. Geubbels from the bench. Gallo’s questionable status affects full-back rotation and could limit Lecce’s ability to overlap aggressively on the left. For Roma, Pellegrini’s creativity and leadership in midfield will be missed, increasing the onus on Dybala and Cristante to control tempo and progression. Bah’s knee injury reduces midfield depth but is less critical to the starting structure.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

Tactically, this match sets up as Lecce’s compact block and transitional threat against Roma’s high-powered, possession-oriented attack. Lecce’s early-season defensive record is perfect: 1 game, 0 goals conceded, and a clean sheet away from home. Their league goals have been evenly split across the second half, with strikes in the 46–60 and 76–90 minute ranges, suggesting strong fitness and the ability to stay competitive late in games. Players like L. Coulibaly and Olaf Gorter are key to this, combining ball-winning with forward thrust.

Roma, meanwhile, boast a fearsome attacking profile: 4 goals scored in their only league match, with goals spread across the 16–30, 46–60 and 76–90 minute windows. This indicates a side that can start fast, punish teams after half-time adjustments, and still finish strongly. The comparison indices underline Roma’s superiority in attack: the attack index sits at 67% for Roma versus 33% for Lecce, while the overall comparison index is 74.8 vs 25.3 in Roma’s favour. However, both teams share a defensive index of 0%, which is more a function of limited sample size than genuine weakness, as neither has conceded yet.

Key matchups will emerge on the flanks, where Lecce’s full-backs and wide midfielders must contain the overlapping runs of N. Molina and D. Rensch while also tracking the movements of Dybala and M. Soulé drifting into half-spaces. In central areas, B. Cristante and N. El Aynaoui will look to dominate possession against L. Coulibaly and Olaf Gorter. If Lecce can disrupt Roma’s build-up and force turnovers in midfield, the pace of K. N’Dri and the aerial presence of N. Štulić can trouble Roma’s back three, particularly with Hermoso already showing an aggressive defensive style that can lead to cards.

Roma’s historical dominance in this fixture is also reflected in the head-to-head index, which stands at 93% in their favour versus 7% for Lecce. Yet Lecce’s recent clean sheet and improved squad quality mean this is unlikely to be a procession. Expect Roma to control territory and shots, while Lecce focus on compactness, set pieces and selective pressing to exploit any over-commitment from the visitors.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest Roma should edge this contest, but the probabilities indicate a more balanced picture than the raw comparison indices. The outcome probabilities give Lecce a 10% chance to win, with both the draw and Roma victory rated at 45%. That reflects Roma’s clear superiority in squad strength and attacking output, offset by Lecce’s strong early form and home advantage.

The betting markets back Roma strongly. Across major bookmakers, Roma’s odds range from 1.47 to 1.59, implying an approximate win probability between about 62.9% and 68.0%. Lecce’s home odds range from 5.90 to 7.10, translating to roughly 14.1% to 17.0% implied probability, while the draw sits between 3.61 and 4.14, or around 24.2% to 27.7%. Combined with the comparison model’s overall index of 74.8 vs 25.3 in Roma’s favour, the analytical edge is clearly with the away side.

However, both teams are in good form (league form “W” for each) and both have yet to concede, so a tight, competitive match is likely. Roma’s superior attacking talent, led by D. Malen and P. Dybala, should ultimately find a way through, but Lecce’s organisation and set-piece threat make a blowout less likely than some past meetings. A narrow away win with both teams having phases of control fits the data and tactical profiles.

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 sports channel / major streaming platform
• UK: Leading sports broadcaster or official Serie A streaming partner
• USA / North America: Regional soccer network or subscription streaming service carrying Serie A
• South America: National sports channel or digital platform with Serie A rights
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network or official Serie A streaming service