Lecce vs Roma: TV and streaming, kick-off time, likely line-ups and Serie A table

Gian Piero Gasperini is poised to field a side almost identical to Roma's opening match against Fiorentina when the club travels to Lecce, with Rodrigo Mora expected to retain his place in an attacking role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Two positions remain competitive: on the right flank, Emanuele Lulli, who impressed on his debut, has been tried again in the starting eleven and could earn another chance from the kick-off, though Nahuel Molina remains in genuine contention despite Lulli gaining ground in the pecking order thanks to his showing against Fiorentina. Gasperini's reluctance to rotate comes as he seeks to reward the performances that stood out in that opening fixture. The bench has shifted Devyne Rensch out of contention as he continues to manage a muscle problem. The rest of the eleven appears settled: Wesley on the left, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante in midfield, and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The manager is expected to discuss team selection and the transfer window's closing hours in a press conference scheduled for today. Mora has continued to convince Gasperini through his quality, personality and ability to move between the lines, while Lulli's full recovery from his debut and Molina's international match fitness both position them as realistic contenders. The sense is that Gasperini intends minimal change to the opening side, reserving deeper rotation for later in the season.

Gian Piero Gasperini will return to Lecce on 31 August having twice visited the Via del Mare in circumstances that left deep frustration. On both occasions—after Roma victories at Lecce and later at the Olimpico—Gasperini skipped the post-match press conferences, his silence masking mounting tensions over the club's transfer activity and squad injuries. The January 2025 visit came during a transfer window when Roma desperately sought a striker; Evan Ferguson scored in a 2–0 win but suffered an ankle injury weeks later, while Artem Dovbyk also scored before injury forced him to undergo surgery. Gasperini's frustration centred on sporting director Massara, whom he felt was moving too slowly in the market, particularly in securing a left winger with a right foot—a need that persists to this day. The tensions that erupted at Lecce deepened significantly after Roma travelled to Turin. Claudio Ranieri was appointed to stabilize the situation, but the arrival of another authority figure widened the rift rather than healed it. Massara and then Ranieri departed; Gasperini ultimately secured the head coach position. The squad then delivered an exceptional run of form that culminated in third place and qualification for the Champions League. The manager's mood has improved substantially since those turbulent January weeks. According to reporting by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini overturned tables at the Via del Mare in his rage and blamed Massara for the slow pace of business. Donyell Malen's arrival in the winter window proved transformative, helping to spark the turnaround. Roma arrive in Lecce having rebuilt their trajectory and secured European football at the continent's highest level.

Former Roma and Lecce player Gigi Garzya has warned that Roma must be ready for an opponent who gives nothing away when the sides meet on Monday. Speaking ahead of the match, Garzya praised Lecce's performance in their opening away win at Venezia, saying the team of Di Francesco "remained in the game with the right mentality and lucidity that weighed heavily in the final half-hour". He highlighted Olaf Gorter as a player who impressed with both quality and personality, and noted the arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's focus on adding strength in the transfer market. On Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini in his second season, Garzya acknowledged the squad has been reinforced, though he described Zeki Çelik's departure as a "heavy" loss—while backing Nahuel Molina to compensate with his quality and competitive drive. He was effusive about midfielder Rodrigo Mora, saying: "Technically he has numbers that make him an important prospect; one characteristic struck me more than others: he is the type of player you do not see frequently in the various leagues, because his thinking arrives first, and consequently he then makes the ball travel in an unpredictable way for opponents. When people say he is a bit light physically, they forget that the most important characteristic is playing the ball always with some instant of anticipation for whoever controls it." On the defence, Garzya explained that Konstantinos Koulierakis represents a deliberate and necessary choice rather than mere cover: "This year, with the Champions League, you need at least six established defenders in the department, calculating also that the game starts from the back, there are so many matches and Gasperini's football is very demanding in every role. The choice was targeted; the Roma coach never approves a signing just to make up numbers." Regarding Roma's ambitions, Garzya urged caution: "It is too early to say and ultimately the transfer market may not be finished yet; let's also see what the others do by the close; certainly you must do everything to maintain Champions League qualification, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

Gian Piero Gasperini is poised to field a side almost identical to Roma's opening match against Fiorentina when the club travels to Lecce, with Rodrigo Mora expected to retain his place in an attacking role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Two positions remain competitive: on the right flank, Emanuele Lulli, who impressed on his debut, has been tried again in the starting eleven and could earn another chance from the kick-off, though Nahuel Molina remains in genuine contention despite Lulli gaining ground in the pecking order thanks to his showing against Fiorentina. Gasperini's reluctance to rotate comes as he seeks to reward the performances that stood out in that opening fixture. The bench has shifted Devyne Rensch out of contention as he continues to manage a muscle problem. The rest of the eleven appears settled: Wesley on the left, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante in midfield, and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The manager is expected to discuss team selection and the transfer window's closing hours in a press conference scheduled for today. Mora has continued to convince Gasperini through his quality, personality and ability to move between the lines, while Lulli's full recovery from his debut and Molina's international match fitness both position them as realistic contenders. The sense is that Gasperini intends minimal change to the opening side, reserving deeper rotation for later in the season.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intent on maintaining tactical consistency after the Fiorentina match. The team will keep the same attacking structure, with Rodrigo Mora operating in the trequarti alongside the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who are expected to develop their understanding further. Wesley is certain to start on the left flank. On the opposite wing, Nahuel Molina is set to make his first start, having fully recovered and winning the contest with young squad member Emanuele Lulli. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable due to a muscle complaint, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not expected to return until September. The midfield will be marshalled by Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The defensive line will see Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso deployed in front of goal, with Konstantinos Koulierakis ready to come on during the match. The change from the previous fixture appears limited to Molina's elevation to the starting eleven, underlining Gasperini's confidence in the team's recent form and tactical setup.

Leonardo Balerdi arrived in Rome on 29 August and will complete his move to AS Roma on 30 August, pending a medical and contract signature. The defender has signed a deal running until 2031 in a loan move from Marseille worth just over 1 million euros, with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation at approximately 15 million euros if conditions are met: a minimum of 15 appearances of 45 minutes or more and Roma's qualification for European football. Balerdi joins an already sizeable Argentine contingent at the club. He will link up with Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina, both compatriots he has played alongside for Argentina, as well as Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro. His arrival strengthens the defensive ranks for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, completing what the source describes as a well-stocked rearguard.

Marten de Roon is joining Roma from Atalanta, arriving at Fiumicino airport at 12:10 to begin his move to the club. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder requested a transfer from Bergamo—where he has been since summer 2015 and holds the club record with 445 appearances—to play Champions League football under Gian Piero Gasperini. The clubs agreed a deal worth 1 million euros. De Roon's arrival enables Neil El Aynaoui's departure to RB Leipzig on loan with an option to buy for a combined total of 29–30 million euros. Gasperini had prioritized signing de Roon as his midfield anchor in Rome. The midfielder is renowned for his positional intelligence and defensive work as a ball-winning midfielder—nicknamed "the dyke" at Atalanta for his ability to shield the defence and enable full-backs and attacking midfielders to press forward without defensive concerns. The relationship between de Roon and Gasperini extends far beyond a typical player-coach dynamic; de Roon functions as the tactical extension of the manager's mind on the pitch. In a recent interview, de Roon praised Gasperini's methods, saying: "He says things in a strong way, it's true, but then he takes you into the Champions League." A viral exchange from May 2026 saw Gasperini remark about midfielder Donyell Malen: "I asked Marten about Malen and he told me to relax, that he was a good lad. If we'd had him from September, we'd already be in the Champions League." With Rensch and Malen, the Dutch contingent at Roma is now complete. De Roon was born in 1991 in Zwijndrecht and began his career at ASWH before joining Feyenoord's youth academy, then Sparta Rotterdam and Heerenveen, where he became captain. At Atalanta, aside from a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2016–17, he became a symbol of the club and a reference point both on and off the pitch. Off the field, he is deeply family-oriented, married to his childhood sweetheart Ricarda, with whom he has three daughters: Linn-Sophie, Evie, and Bo. He is known for witty and sarcastic social-media use; a celebrated 2021 video showed him at Atalanta's official store promising to pay for shirts for the first three fans to buy his number 15 jersey—after hours with none sold, he left dejected, quipping: "I bet something like this never happens to Messi." However, some Roma fans have raised sharp criticism of de Roon's signing, citing an incident from late April 2023. Atalanta defeated Roma 3–1, days after Roma's Europa League quarter-final victory over Feyenoord. De Roon, who grew up in Rotterdam, posted on Instagram: "When your roots are in Rotterdam and you beat Roma," while showing the middle finger of his left hand holding a Conference League keychain—the same souvenir Mourinho had given to a Dutch journalist after Roma's 2022 Conference League triumph in Tirana against Feyenoord. The Italian football federation fined de Roon 2,500 euros months later for posting content deemed "offensive and insulting." The lingering resentment remains, and de Roon now faces the challenge of winning over Roma supporters on the pitch, backed by Gasperini and a squad ready to receive him.

Gian Piero Gasperini is poised to field a side almost identical to Roma's opening match against Fiorentina when the club travels to Lecce, with Rodrigo Mora expected to retain his place in an attacking role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Two positions remain competitive: on the right flank, Emanuele Lulli, who impressed on his debut, has been tried again in the starting eleven and could earn another chance from the kick-off, though Nahuel Molina remains in genuine contention despite Lulli gaining ground in the pecking order thanks to his showing against Fiorentina. Gasperini's reluctance to rotate comes as he seeks to reward the performances that stood out in that opening fixture. The bench has shifted Devyne Rensch out of contention as he continues to manage a muscle problem. The rest of the eleven appears settled: Wesley on the left, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante in midfield, and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The manager is expected to discuss team selection and the transfer window's closing hours in a press conference scheduled for today. Mora has continued to convince Gasperini through his quality, personality and ability to move between the lines, while Lulli's full recovery from his debut and Molina's international match fitness both position them as realistic contenders. The sense is that Gasperini intends minimal change to the opening side, reserving deeper rotation for later in the season.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intent on maintaining tactical consistency after the Fiorentina match. The team will keep the same attacking structure, with Rodrigo Mora operating in the trequarti alongside the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who are expected to develop their understanding further. Wesley is certain to start on the left flank. On the opposite wing, Nahuel Molina is set to make his first start, having fully recovered and winning the contest with young squad member Emanuele Lulli. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable due to a muscle complaint, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not expected to return until September. The midfield will be marshalled by Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The defensive line will see Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso deployed in front of goal, with Konstantinos Koulierakis ready to come on during the match. The change from the previous fixture appears limited to Molina's elevation to the starting eleven, underlining Gasperini's confidence in the team's recent form and tactical setup.

Gian Piero Gasperini is poised to field a side almost identical to Roma's opening match against Fiorentina when the club travels to Lecce, with Rodrigo Mora expected to retain his place in an attacking role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Two positions remain competitive: on the right flank, Emanuele Lulli, who impressed on his debut, has been tried again in the starting eleven and could earn another chance from the kick-off, though Nahuel Molina remains in genuine contention despite Lulli gaining ground in the pecking order thanks to his showing against Fiorentina. Gasperini's reluctance to rotate comes as he seeks to reward the performances that stood out in that opening fixture. The bench has shifted Devyne Rensch out of contention as he continues to manage a muscle problem. The rest of the eleven appears settled: Wesley on the left, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante in midfield, and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The manager is expected to discuss team selection and the transfer window's closing hours in a press conference scheduled for today. Mora has continued to convince Gasperini through his quality, personality and ability to move between the lines, while Lulli's full recovery from his debut and Molina's international match fitness both position them as realistic contenders. The sense is that Gasperini intends minimal change to the opening side, reserving deeper rotation for later in the season.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intent on maintaining tactical consistency after the Fiorentina match. The team will keep the same attacking structure, with Rodrigo Mora operating in the trequarti alongside the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who are expected to develop their understanding further. Wesley is certain to start on the left flank. On the opposite wing, Nahuel Molina is set to make his first start, having fully recovered and winning the contest with young squad member Emanuele Lulli. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable due to a muscle complaint, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not expected to return until September. The midfield will be marshalled by Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The defensive line will see Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso deployed in front of goal, with Konstantinos Koulierakis ready to come on during the match. The change from the previous fixture appears limited to Molina's elevation to the starting eleven, underlining Gasperini's confidence in the team's recent form and tactical setup.

Roma have completed the signing of Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Marseille. The Argentine defender will join on a loan deal worth €1 million, with a right of rescission that can become an obligation based on certain conditions. The rescission fee is variable between €12 million and €15 million. Balerdi will arrive at Ciampino airport and undergo medical tests before signing his contract. Balerdi is Roma's fifth summer acquisition, following Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, and Rodrigo Mora. The club remains active in the transfer market with other targets still being pursued. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues to press for a left-winger, a position the club has lacked for six years. Sky Sport reports Roma are close to meeting Zenit's demands for an unnamed left-sided player, whose transfer fee stands at €40 million and who earns €4 million annually. Negotiations over player agreement are ongoing. In midfield, Roma hold an agreement with Fofana and are pushing for a loan with a right of rescission, though Lyon have not yet accepted this formula. Meanwhile, Sunderland have recently entered the race for a Belgian player as an alternative to Igor Paixao of Marseille, according to FootMercato. Hull City maintain strong interest and have already tabled a €35 million offer to the French club. Gigi Garzya, a former player with strong ties to Roma, stated on the remaining market window: "It is early to say where Roma can reach in their second year under Gasperini's leadership, and the market may not yet be finished. We must see what the other teams do by the closing date. Certainly we must do everything to maintain the Champions League position, because Roma must play regularly in this competition."