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

Lecce host AS Roma at Stadio Via del Mare in the second round of the 2026 Serie A season, with both sides coming into the clash on the back of opening-day wins. Lecce sit 5th with 3 points, a +2 goal difference and a clean sheet from their first outing, while Roma are already up in 2nd, also on 3 points but with a commanding +4 goal difference after a 4-0 victory. With both teams starting with a win, this early-season meeting carries extra weight in setting the tone for their respective campaigns.

From a historical perspective, Roma have dominated this fixture in recent years, but Lecce’s strong start and home advantage suggest a more competitive contest than some of the past scorelines. With both sides showing defensive solidity so far (no goals conceded between them), the battle will likely be decided by the quality in the final third. This is where predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup choices become crucial, particularly around how Lecce try to contain Roma’s attacking stars and how Roma manage their absences in midfield.

Stats suggest Roma come in as favourites, but the standings underline that Lecce are no pushovers, having already claimed a 2-0 away win. The predicted lineups for both teams point to a clash between a compact, hard-working Lecce side and a Roma outfit built around high-end attacking talent and creative support.

Lecce Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Lecce arrive in good overall shape but with at least one notable absentee. L. Banda is listed as a missing fixture (inactive), which removes one of their attacking options from contention for the starting lineup. A. Gallo is marked as questionable with an injury, so he cannot be locked into the expected XI at this stage and is treated as an absence for predictive purposes. Otherwise, Lecce’s core group looks intact, and their opening-round win, reflected in a league form string of “W”, suggests continuity will be a priority.

Based on their early-season numbers, Lecce have combined a solid defensive base with enough cutting edge to score twice away from home while keeping a clean sheet. The expected approach is a balanced but cautious setup, using a compact defensive block and energetic midfielders to screen the back line. In attack, the manager is likely to lean on players who have already contributed in Serie A 2026, with Olaf Gorter and Tiago Gabriel emerging from the top scorers list as early difference-makers. The expected lineup should therefore preserve that spine while adjusting for Banda’s absence on the flank.

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 keeps W. Falcone in goal as the senior goalkeeper and builds a back line around Kialonda Gaspar, C. Ndaba, J. Siebert and Danilo Veiga, all natural defenders from the squad list. Tiago Gabriel, who scored and appears in both the top scorers and top assists lists, is also a strong candidate to feature; however, with only four defensive slots available in the starting XI, he is projected as a high-impact option from the bench, especially given his ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch.

In midfield, L. Coulibaly is a clear lock after his all-action display in the opener, where he registered an assist and appears in the top assists chart. His work rate and ball-winning will be central to Lecce’s plan to disrupt Roma’s build-up. Olaf Gorter, also on the top scorers list with a goal already, offers a more advanced, box-arriving presence and should be expected to link midfield to attack. O. Gandelman and M. Kaba complete a robust, hard-working midfield unit that can shift laterally to protect the full-backs.

Up front, K. N’Dri and N. Štulić are projected as the primary attacking outlets. Both are listed as attackers in the squad and give Lecce a blend of mobility and penalty-box presence. With Banda unavailable, the width is likely to be shared between the wide forward and overlapping full-backs, while the central striker works off the service from Gorter and Coulibaly. The overall shape is expected to be disciplined rather than expansive, with a focus on transitions and set pieces to trouble Roma.

AS Roma Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Roma travel to Lecce with a couple of significant absences in midfield. M. Bah is ruled out with a knee injury, and captain L. Pellegrini is missing due to a thigh injury. Both are marked as missing fixtures, so they are excluded from the predicted starting lineup. Even without them, Roma’s squad depth is considerable, particularly in attacking areas, and their league form of “W” and a 4-0 home win underline the strength of their current setup.

The lineups today for Roma are expected to remain close to the side that delivered that emphatic opening victory, especially as their statistical profile shows a strong attacking index and flawless defensive record so far. With P. Dybala topping the assists chart and D. Malen leading the scoring charts after just one match, the manager is likely to build the structure around this duo, supported by a solid back line and experienced midfielders such as B. Cristante. The predicted lineups therefore lean heavily on continuity, with adjustments only where injuries force them.

AS Roma Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

Roma’s expected starting lineup keeps M. Svilar in goal, supported by a back four built around Hermoso, G. Mancini, E. Ndicka and N. Molina. Hermoso features in both the top yellow cards and top red cards lists, underlining his aggressive defensive style and importance in Roma’s back line. Mancini and Ndicka provide aerial strength and recovery pace, while Molina offers width and crossing from full-back, giving Roma both solidity and an attacking outlet down the flank.

In midfield, B. Cristante is the natural anchor, offering positional discipline and passing range. With Bah and Pellegrini out, N. El Aynaoui and M. Koné are projected to complete the trio, providing legs, pressing and vertical runs from midfield. Further forward, the attacking trident of P. Dybala, D. Malen and M. Soulé looks formidable. Dybala, top of the assists chart with three assists and a high rating, is expected to drift between the lines, dictating play and feeding runners. Malen, already on three goals and leading the top scorers list, will be the focal point in the box, while Soulé offers an additional creative and goal threat from the opposite side. N. Pisilli, who also appears in the top scorers and top assists lists with a goal and strong rating, is a prime candidate to impact the game from the bench if Roma need extra energy or a tactical tweak.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences on both sides could subtly reshape the match dynamic, especially in wide and central midfield zones. For Lecce, losing Banda reduces their direct pace and 1v1 threat on the flank, pushing more responsibility onto N’Dri and the full-backs to stretch Roma’s defence. For Roma, the absence of Pellegrini removes a key creative and leadership figure in midfield, while Bah’s injury limits their options for rotation and energy in the centre of the pitch.

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

The predicted lineups point to a clash between Lecce’s compact, hard-working structure and Roma’s high-ceiling attacking unit. Lecce’s back four, shielded by Coulibaly and Gandelman, will be tasked with containing the movement of Dybala between the lines and Malen’s runs in behind. Olaf Gorter’s role is key: as a midfielder who has already scored this season, he must both support Lecce’s press and offer an outlet when they regain possession, linking quickly with N’Dri and Štulić on transitions. Tiago Gabriel, even if starting on the bench, offers Lecce a tactical card to play later, adding height and set-piece threat against a physically strong Roma side.

Roma, meanwhile, are likely to control territory and possession, with Cristante dictating tempo and El Aynaoui and Koné providing vertical support. The wide channels will be critical: Molina’s overlaps on one side and Soulé’s drifting on the other will test Lecce’s full-backs and wide midfielders. Dybala’s creative influence, reflected in his three assists already, will force Lecce’s midfield to stay compact, which could open space for Roma’s wing-backs and wide forwards. Defensively, Roma’s back line of Hermoso, Mancini and Ndicka is well equipped to handle crosses and direct balls into Štulić, but they must be wary of N’Dri’s movement in the channels and Coulibaly’s late surges. The overall tactical battle should revolve around whether Lecce can maintain their defensive structure long enough to exploit Roma on the break, or whether Roma’s sustained pressure eventually breaks them down.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Based on current form, squad strength and the predictive models, Roma are favoured to take all three points. The outcome probabilities give Lecce around a 10% chance to win, with the draw and Roma win each at approximately 45%. That balance indicates that while Roma are the stronger side on paper, there is a significant chance of a tight contest where Lecce’s organisation and home advantage could force a stalemate. The comparison indices also lean heavily towards Roma overall, particularly in attacking metrics, reflecting their four goals scored and strong creative numbers from Dybala and Malen.

Pre-match odds reinforce this view. Across major bookmakers, Roma are priced between 1.47 and 1.59 to win, implying an approximate probability range of about 62.9% to 68.0% for an away victory. Lecce’s home win odds, ranging roughly from 5.90 to 7.10, translate to an implied probability of around 14.1% to 17.0%, while the draw sits in the 3.61 to 4.14 band, or about 24.2% to 27.7%. With both teams yet to concede this season but Roma showing far greater firepower, a narrow away win appears the most likely outcome, even if Lecce manage to keep the game competitive for long spells.

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: National sports broadcaster or leading OTT football service
• USA / North America: Subscription-based soccer network or main sports streaming app
• South America: Regional cable sports channel and associated streaming service
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network and official digital platform