Both unbeaten so far this season, Lecce and Salernitana meet at Stadio Via del Mare on Sunday evening.
The hosts have upset the odds to take four points from their first two Serie A fixtures of the 2023-24 campaign, while their visitors from Salerno have posted back-to-back draws.
Match preview
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Now aiming to go undefeated through their first three top-flight matches for the first time since 2004 - and just the second time ever - Lecce have enjoyed an excellent start to the new season.
After knocking Como out of the Coppa Italia, the Salentini went on to shock Lazio with a remarkable comeback on Serie A's opening weekend, and they roared back again to grab an unlikely point last time out.
Trailing by two goals heading into the second half at Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi, Lecce reduced their arrears soon after the interval, as Hamza Rafia got his first goal since signing from Pescara earlier this summer, and debutant Nikola Krstovic then sprang off the bench to score an equaliser.
As a result, the Giallorossi have already gained four points from losing positions. That represents half of last term's tally in such situations and perhaps suggests bright times ahead under new boss Roberto D'Aversa, who took the reins when Marco Baroni moved to Verona shortly after leading Lecce to safety.
Ahead of their final fixture before the upcoming international break, Lecce have scored in each of their last 15 league meetings with Salernitana; however, they were beaten 2-1 by the Campanian club at Via del Mare when the teams most recently convened in January.
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While their hosts have started the season well, Salernitana are also in record-setting mode at the start of the 2023-24 campaign: they have gone unbeaten in their opening pair of Serie A matches for the very first time.
Before having his turned by interest from Premier League side Wolves on transfer deadline day, last term's top scorer Boulaye Dia made his first start of the season at home to Udinese on Monday, when his 72nd-minute leveller earned the Granata another point following a first-day draw with Roma.
Paulo Sousa's side had come within a whisker of success in Rome, where conceding in the last 10 minutes cost them victory, but they were largely indebted to goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa at Stadio Arechi, as the Mexican shot-stopper again showed why he usurped former number one Luigi Sepe midway through last season.
Ochoa played a major role in securing Salernitana's safety following Sousa's arrival in Campania, and they have kicked off the new campaign by progressing past Ternana in the Coppa Italia before starting positively in Serie A.
With Dia converting his successful loan deal into a permanent contract and Ochoa standing firm between the posts, the Salerno side can target mid-table security this year, but will surely need to take points off the likes of Lecce if they are to push for a top-half finish.
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Team News
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Following his impact from the bench against Fiorentina, new signing Nikola Krstovic will be pressing his claims to Roberto D'Aversa for a first Lecce start this weekend.
After scoring on his Serie A debut, the Montenegrin - who averaged over a goal every other game for former club DAC Dunajska Streda - could become the only player to net in his first two top-flight matches for the Giallorossi since Javier Chevanton in 2001.
Last season's leading scorer, Gabriel Strefezza, struck in both meetings with Salernitana in 2022-23, and the Brazilian will play a part in the hosts' front three on Sunday, possibly supporting Krstovic up front.
Meanwhile, the visitors' star striker Boulaye Dia both scored and assisted in January's visit to Via del Mare, in addition to racking up seven goals and one assist in his last seven Serie A starts. However, he will now be dropped; being declared 'not ready to play' by Salernitana sporting director Morgan De Sanctis after a mooted move to Wolves failed to progress.
Paulo Sousa will also be without Flavius Daniliuc (foot) and most likely Guilio Maggiore (calf) due to injury, but recent arrivals Agustin Martegani and Jovane Cabral - both of whom made cameos from the bench against Udinese - have increased his attacking options. Nigerian striker Charles Ikwuemesi is in contention too.
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Pongracic, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Gonzalez, Rafia; Strefezza, Krstovic, Almqvist
Salernitana possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Lovato, Gyomber, Pirola; Mazzocchi, L. Coulibaly, Bohinen, Bradaric; Kastanos, Candreva; Botheim
We say: Lecce 2-2 Salernitana
As two likely contestants for mid-table safety meet, both can extend their unbeaten start to the season. Lecce and Salernitana have made some smart attacking acquisitions this summer, so a draw featuring goals at both ends could play out at Via del Mare.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
