AS Roma vs Lecce – Match preview and team news

Serie A returns to the capital on Sunday when AS Roma welcome Lecce to the Stadio Olimpico, a fixture that carries very different pressures for each side. The Giallorossi have slipped to sixth after a five-match winless spiral across all competitions and now trail the Champions League places by a margin they can no longer afford to let grow. Lecce, just two points above the drop zone, arrive in Rome buoyed by three victories in their last six league outings yet still searching for a first away win since January.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s reshuffled attack will again be without every senior striker on the books. Paulo Dybala, Evan Ferguson, Artem Dovbyk and Matias Soulé remain in the treatment room, with Dovbyk and Ferguson ruled out for the remainder of the campaign. Dutch forward Donyell Malen, who has started every match since the start of February, is set to continue as the makeshift centre-forward. Creativity could also be dented in deeper areas: midfielder Manu Koné is rated highly doubtful after missing training on Friday, while wing-back Wesley must serve a suspension following his red card in the 1-1 draw with Como.

Thursday’s Europa League exit still stings after Roma surrendered a 3-1 lead in the closing minutes against Bologna before losing 4-3 in extra time. The defensive frailty that has seen them concede 11 goals in their last five outings will encourage a Lecce side that has scored in five of its previous six league games.

Eusebio Di Francesco, back at the Olimpico for the first time since his 2019 sacking by Roma, has problems of his own. Midfield engine Lassana Coulibaly, winger Riccardo Sottil and defender Kialonda Gaspar are all nursing injuries and will not return before early April. Medon Berisha and teenage starlet Francesco Camarda will undergo late fitness tests, though neither is expected to start. In Coulibaly’s absence, Israeli international Omri Gandelman is poised to anchor the midfield, while Nikola Stulic is tipped to continue as the central striker, with Walid Cheddira on standby to offer a second-half spark.

Roma’s probable XI sees Rui Patricio drop to the bench as Mile Svilar keeps the gloves behind a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan Ndicka and emerging centre-back Federico Ghilardi. The wing-back slots are expected to be filled by Zeki Celik and Kostas Tsimikas, flanking Bryan Cristante and young talent Niccolò Pisilli in midfield, with Lorenzo Pellegrini operating just off Malen.

Lecce’s 4-2-3-1 is likely to read: Wladimiro Falcone in goal; a back four of Kreshnik Veiga, Federico Gabriel, Antonino Siebert and Alessandro Gallo; a double pivot of Ylber Ramadani and Alexis Ngom; and an attacking line of Remi Pierotti, Gandelman, Lameck Banda and Stulic.

A victory for Roma would move them level on points with fourth-placed Torino, at least until the later kick-offs, while anything less keeps the door ajar for the chasing pack. For Lecce, a positive result would edge them toward the 40-point mark and heap pressure on the bottom three heading into the international break.

Coverage in the UK is exclusively via DAZN UK, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 GMT on Sunday, 22 March 2026.