Leece and Salernitana will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they meet in the Serie A. In contrast to the visitors from Salerno, the hosts have defied the odds to win four points from their opening two Serie A games of the 2023–24 season.
Preview (Lecce vs. Salernitana)
Lecce have had a strong start to the new season and are now looking to go undefeated through their first three top-flight fixtures for the first time since 2004 – and just the second time ever. The Salentini shocked Lazio with a miraculous comeback on the first weekend of Serie A. It was after eliminating Como from the Coppa Italia. They roared back once more to earn an unexpected point last time out. At Fiorentina’s Stadio Artemio Franchi, Lecce found themselves two goals down at the break. However, soon after the break, Hamza Rafia scored his first goal since joining from Pescara earlier this summer. Nikola Krstovic came off the bench to score an equalizer.
So far, the Giallorossi have benefited from losing situations by four points. In such circumstances, that is half of last term’s total and may portend good things to come for new manager Roberto D’Aversa, who took over when Marco Baroni left for Verona shortly after leading Lecce to safety. Lecce have scored in each of their previous 15 league encounters with Salernitana. They were defeated 2-1 at Via del Mare when the clubs last met in January. This weekend’s game will be their last before the impending international break. The 2023–24 season has started off nicely for its hosts, but Salernitana is also on a record-setting tear.
The season’s leading scorer Boulaye Dia made his first appearance against Udinese at home on Monday night. His equalizer in the 72nd minute gave the Granata another point after an opening-day tie with Roma. At Stadio Arechi, Guillermo Ochoa once again demonstrated why he replaced former number-one Luigi Sepe midway through last season. Paulo Sousa’s team had come within a whisker of victory in Rome. Conceding in the final 10 minutes cost them victory.
Team News
Following his impact from the bench against Fiorentina, recent acquisition Nikola Krstovic will be arguing for his first Lecce start this weekend with Roberto D’Aversa. The Montenegrin, who averaged nearly a goal every other game for former club DAC Dunajska Streda, may become the first player since Javier Chevanton in 2001 to score in his first two top-flight games for the Giallorossi after netting on his Serie A debut. The top scorer from the previous campaign, Gabriel Strefezza, scored in both of the teams’ games with Salernitana in 2022–23. On Sunday, the Brazilian will be a part of the home team’s front three, likely assisting Krstovic up front.
Boulaye Dia, the standout striker for the visitors, visited Via del Mare in January and contributed four goals and assists. The Senegal international has scored seven goals and provided one assist in his previous seven Serie A games including this week’s equalizer against Udinese. Although Flavius Daniliuc (foot) and Guilio Maggiore (calf) are both out injured, Paulo Sousa now has more attacking alternatives with the additions of Agustin Martegani and Jovane Cabral, who both made substitute appearances against Udinese. Both players have the opportunity to extend their unbeaten starts to the season as they face off for a mid-table safety spot. A draw with goals at both ends is possible given the shrewd attacking additions that Lecce and Salernitana made this summer.
Leece 2 – 2 Salerntina
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