Still stuck in mid-table after a defeat last week, Roma aim to re-ignite their Serie A season on Sunday evening, when they host Lecce at Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi came up just short against Inter Milan so sit only a point above their visitors, who are enduring a dire run of form.
Match preview
© Reuters
For the fifth time in six top-flight meetings with Inter, Roma were on the wrong side of the result last Sunday at San Siro, as Marcus Thuram's 81st-minute strike broke their resistance and consigned them to a fourth league defeat of the season.
Romelu Lukaku and Jose Mourinho both departed their old club empty-handed, and the Giallorossi were left on a disappointing total of 14 points - they last tallied fewer after 10 Serie A matches some 11 years ago.
Lukaku's goals had previously fired Roma up the standings during a five-game winning streak across all competitions, which included a 2-0 defeat of Europa League opponents Slavia Prague, who Mourinho's men meet again next week.
After making a perfect start to their Group G campaign, last year's beaten finalists are already within touching distance of a place in the knockout rounds - but they still have plenty of ground to make up in Serie A.
Roma have taken maximum points from each of their last three league matches on home turf, keeping a clean sheet on each occasion, so returning to Stadio Olimpico will surely fill them with confidence this weekend.
In the process of winning no fewer than 23 of their 34 Serie A matches against Lecce to date, they have also won 82% of the clubs' encounters in Rome - losing only once.
© Reuters
By contrast with Sunday's hosts, Lecce started the 2023-24 season like a steam train, but the warm winds of summer have since subsided at the Salento club, to be replaced by a bitter autumn chill.
After going unbeaten through their first five Serie A matches, the Salentini have lost three of their last five and drawn the other two.
Roberto D'Aversa enjoyed a bright start to life down at Via del Mare, but after losing twice at home in the space of a few days - the latter loss coming against his former club Parma in the Coppa Italia - concerns have been raised.
Before exiting the cup to the Serie B leaders on Wednesday - when they were beaten 4-2, after conceding twice during second-half stoppage time - Lecce had lost out to Torino in the league; leaving them in the bottom half of the table.
With Roma and Milan next up on the schedule, it does not get any easier for D'Aversa; however, his side have drawn three of their four away matches this term and will reach the capital believing they can at least hold out for a point.
Team News
© Reuters
After enjoying a rare midweek break, Roma remain depleted by absences as they approach a busy period that culminates in next week's Derby della Capitale.
Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini is close to returning from a muscular injury but is more likely to feature against Slavia Prague on Thursday, ahead of the all-important derby with Lazio; meanwhile, fellow midfielder Leandro Paredes misses out due to suspension.
Leonardo Spinazzola also joins long-term absentees Marash Kumbulla and Tammy Abraham on the sidelines, while Chris Smalling continues to suffer setbacks on his road to recovery.
In better news for Jose Mourinho, Paulo Dybala - who averages a goal every 77 minutes versus Lecce - should be passed fit to partner Romelu Lukaku up front, and Renato Sanches is set to make his comeback after a six-week layoff.
Lecce will be without Kastriot Dermaku once again, but Roberto D'Aversa can still select his best side on Sunday, having made several changes in midweek.
Forwards Roberto Piccoli and Gabriel Strefezza both found the net as the Salentini fought back from two goals down against Parma before blowing their cup hopes late on, and both will hope for promotion to the league XI.
If selected, Piccoli would replace Montenegrin striker Nikola Krstovic in the centre of an attacking trident: after producing three goals from his first three Serie A appearances, the latter has since scored just one in his last six.
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Llorente, Ndicka; Karsdorp, Bove, Cristante, Aouar, El Shaarawy; Dybala, Lukaku
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Pongracic, Dorgu; Kaba, Ramadani, Rafia; Almqvist, Krstovic, Strefezza
We say: Roma 1-0 Lecce
Since being shocked by Genoa in September, Roma have seen off several opponents of relatively modest stature, only having their limitations exposed by Scudetto favourites Inter last time out. As Lecce's early spurt of form has waned, they are also unlikely to record just a second Serie A win over their fellow Giallorossi on Rome soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
