Serie A | Gameweek 16

Dec 15, 2024 at 11.30am UK

Stadio Comunale Via del Mare

Leccevs.Monza

Match preview

Lecce, who were level on points with last week's opponents Roma following the arrival of new coach Marco Giampaolo, were still in contention at half-time.

A Nikola Krstovic penalty sent the sides into the tunnel level at 1-1, but a second-half collapse from the Salentini saw Claudio Ranieri's men run out 4-1 winners at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lecce had responded to the change in management with a first away win at Venezia and a last-gasp point at home to Juventus, but their brief unbeaten run came to an abrupt end in the Eternal City.

Still heavily reliant on Krstovic - who has scored as many times for his club this season as he has for Montenegro in the UEFA Nations League - the Giallorossi have the fewest different goalscorers in Serie A, with just four so far.

As such, they will be eager to move up a gear against one of the few teams below them in the table, having gone through four top-flight meetings with Monza unbeaten.

The last time the two sides met, in April's league clash at Via del Mare, they played out a 1-1 draw, with Krstovic scoring a seemingly winner in the 92nd minute before Monza captain Matteo Pessina dramatically pulled one back from the spot.

Looking up at 16th-placed Lecce, Monza go into Sunday's game stuck in the Serie A relegation zone with just 10 points to their name.

That meagre tally is less than half of the 21 they collected at this stage last season, the biggest deficit of any team in the Italian top flight.

Alessandro Nesta's men are now without a win in seven games following Monday's 2-1 home defeat to Udinese, leaving them in 19th place at the halfway stage of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Bianconeri have not tasted success since October and were knocked out of the Coppa Italia last week, meaning a long fight for survival now looms for a club that has secured mid-table finishes in both seasons since their historic promotion.

There is a glimmer of hope for the Monza faithful this week, however, as 70% of their points have come on the road - the highest proportion in Serie A.

Recent Performance

Lecce Serie A form:WLDWDL

Monza Serie A form:LLLDDL

Monza form (all competitions):LLDDLL

Team News

Lecce will be without two members of their regular back four this weekend as Kialonda Gaspar joins Antonino Gallo on the sidelines with injury, while Lameck Banda, Kevin Bonifazi and Filip Marchwinski are also out.

Andy Pelmard - a possible defensive replacement - is a doubt with illness, but there is good news for Marco Giampaolo as midfielder Balthazar Pierret has returned to full training.

Leading the home side's attack will be Nikola Krstovic, who scored in both games against Monza last season, while Ante Rebic and Patrick Dorgu should provide his supply from out wide.

Meanwhile, Monza's main threat may not be veteran striker Milan Djuric, but Greek full-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos, whose goal against Udinese took his tally for the season to five - already his best in Serie A.

Dany Mota and Daniel Maldini will support Djuric in the final third, although Gianluca Caprari's claims cannot be ruled out.

Once again, the Biancorossi will be without injured goalkeeper Alessio Cragno and midfield duo Roberto Gagliardini and Matteo Pessina, whose fitness problems have accelerated a possible loan move for Chelsea's Cesare Casadei.

Possible starting lineup

Lecce possible starting lineup:

Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Pelmard; Coulibaly, Rafia, Ramadani; Rebic, Krstovic, Dorgu

Monza possible starting lineup:

Turati; Izzo, Mari, Carboni; Birindelli, Bianco, Bondo, Kyriakopoulos; Maldini, Mota; Djuric