Roma seek second straight win at Lecce in Serie A

Roma have made a blistering start to the 2026–27 season under Gian Piero Gasperini, scoring seven goals across their first two Serie A fixtures. A dominant 4–0 victory over Fiorentina at the Olimpico in the opening match was followed by a 3–0 win away at Lecce, displaying the immediate attacking potency of Gasperini's tactical approach. The seven goals in the opening 180 minutes rank among Roma's best starts in recent years. Across the last nine Serie A seasons, only the 2021–22 campaign saw Roma match or exceed this output in their first two matches—when they also scored seven goals. The statistic underlines the impact of Gasperini's offensive system and how quickly the squad has absorbed his tactical concepts, establishing an exceptionally high offensive intensity from the outset of the campaign.

Roma secured their second consecutive victory in Serie A's second matchday with a goal from Donyell Malen that withstood a VAR check. Referee Chiffi, assisted by VAR official Di Paolo, reviewed the opening goal in the fourth minute and confirmed it was lawful. Paulo Dybala was in a legal position when he touched the ball before Malen capitalised on a fortunate rebound to finish. The match saw Chiffi take charge with Imperiale and Cecconi as assistant referees, Di Bello as fourth official, and Paganessi as assistant VAR. Roma's second consecutive win maintains their strong start to the 2026–27 campaign.

Roma will face more than just Lecce when they travel to the Via del Mare for the second round of Serie A fixtures. Temperatures are expected to reach 32 degrees Celsius with 70% humidity at kickoff, with only a modest improvement forecast over the following two hours as conditions settle around 30 degrees during the match itself. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the challenge before the fixture, expressing concern about the heat. "Abnormal heat, we've been carrying it for a few months now," he said. "We hope that this doesn't come at the expense of our performance and the spectacle for the fans." The contest will double as an exercise in energy management, with extreme temperatures posing a significant tactical consideration for both sides.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the media before Roma's match against Lecce, highlighting the anomalous heat as a potential obstacle. Speaking to both DAZN and Sky Sport, Gasperini said: "Unusual heat that we have been dealing with for several months. We hoped that with the start of the season there would be less of it. I hope it does not also affect the fans." Gasperini drew comparisons to Roma's previous fixture against Fiorentina, in which the team delivered a strong performance and high tempo. "It is a characteristic of ours. Against Fiorentina we started very well, also exploiting the considerable enthusiasm that surrounds us. We know how difficult it is to play here in Lecce. We will have to deliver a high-level performance to win today as well." He noted that playing in such climatic conditions affects all teams equally, describing them as "fairly at the limit" but common at this time of year. Regarding team selection, Gasperini confirmed opportunities for Matías Soulé and squad depth, saying: "With these conditions you have to rely on those who are in good shape and completed their preparation like Soulé and Lulli. Everyone is ready. Football is now played with 16 players. Substitutions make even those starting on the bench count as starters." On the pairing of Paulo Dybala and Soulé, Gasperini stated: "No, they have also done very good things in the past. Given the prolonged absence of both last year, there have not been many chances to verify this."

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned that unseasonably hot conditions could affect the spectacle of Roma's Serie A fixture at Lecce on 31 August, the second round of the season. The head coach acknowledged that Lecce presents a difficult away fixture, but expressed hope that the heat does not compromise the quality of play or the experience for supporters attending in large numbers. Gasperini highlighted Roma's impressive opening-day display against Fiorentina and the momentum surrounding the club as key assets for Sunday's match. He stressed that another strong performance will be required on an awkward pitch. "It's a characteristic of ours; we started very well against Fiorentina and also benefited from the enthusiasm around us. This is another match on a difficult field for everyone. An excellent performance will be needed," he said. On team selection, Gasperini confirmed that Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli, who performed well in pre-season, are ready to feature. He noted that modern football demands depth across a 16-player squad and said players will be deployed based on their current fitness levels given the weather conditions.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini acknowledged the challenge of unusual heat conditions before Roma's Serie A visit to Lecce on matchday two, but insisted the team must deliver an excellent display regardless. Lecce has historically proved a difficult ground for all teams, and Gasperini stressed that Roma's response will require their best work. Gasperini highlighted Roma's strong start against Fiorentina in the opening round, attributing early success to the team's characteristic rhythm and the enthusiasm surrounding the club. He indicated that Matías Soulé and Emanuele Lulli will feature in the squad, saying both had performed well in pre-season preparation. On the heat, Gasperini said: "Abnormal heat, we've carried it with us for some months. We hope that this does not harm the performance and the spectacle for the fans, who are numerous." When asked about Roma's weapon against the heat and the pace displayed on matchday one, Gasperini replied: "It is our characteristic. We started very well against Fiorentina, we also took advantage of the enthusiasm around us. This is another match on a difficult pitch for everyone. An excellent performance will be needed." He added: "With these conditions you must rely on those who are particularly fit. Lulli and Soulé had good preparation, everyone is ready. Modern football is played with 16 players."

Roma line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation for their second Serie A match of the season at Lecce on Monday, 31 August, with Matías Soulé replacing Rodrigo Mora in attack as the only change from their opening-day win over Fiorentina. The side shows Mile Svilar in goal, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence, Emanuele Lulli and Bryan Cristante in midfield with Manu Koné, Wesley providing width, Soulé in the No. 10 role and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as forwards. Gian Piero Gasperini keeps the bulk of the XI unchanged, with Nahuel Molina, Leonardo Balerdi and Marten de Roon among those on the bench. Lecce, managed by Di Francesco, set out in a 4-3-3 with Falcone in goal and deploy Ndaba, Gaspar, Siebert and Veiga across their back four.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August at 18:30 seeking to build on their commanding 4–0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini intends to make minimal changes to the starting eleven that earned that emphatic win, with the principal uncertainty centring on the right-back slot where Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli are contending for a starting place. Rodrigo Mora is favoured to retain his position in the attacking line alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who scored a hat-trick against Fiorentina. Mile Svilar will continue in goal, with the defensive trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso set to remain unchanged in front of him. Wesley will operate at left-back, while Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to continue as the central midfield pairing, despite the latter finishing the Fiorentina match with minor physical discomfort. The attacking system allows the three front players considerable fluidity, with Dybala given freedom to drift between the lines and support Malen as the most advanced referential point. Two recent arrivals—Marten de Roon and Leonardo Balerdi—have been included in the travelling squad for Lecce but are unlikely to start. De Roon, officially confirmed by Roma in recent hours, and Balerdi, newly arrived, have had minimal training time with their teammates and will serve as potential substitutes. Gasperini stated that he considered Matías Soulé fully available for the Lecce fixture, though Mora currently holds the edge for the starting role. The ballottage readings suggest Molina leads Lulli 55–45 per cent, while Mora is favoured 65–35 per cent over Soulé. Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch remain unavailable. Roma's tactical setup is expected to mirror the successful pattern from the opening day, with ten positions clearly established and the contest between Molina and Lulli on the right flank representing the main selection dilemma Gasperini faces.

Roma face Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare on 31 August at 18:30 in a Serie A fixture. Four major Italian newspapers predict a 3–4–1–2 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso, and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as the attacking pair. Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected in midfield, with Wesley operating as a full-back. The main variance in predicted lineups centres on one defensive position. Corriere dello Sport, Il Messaggero, Il Tempo and Corriere della Sera all expect Emanuele Lulli at left-back, while Gazzetta dello Sport forecasts Nahuel Molina in that role. All four outlets agree on the remainder of the eleven, including Rodrigo Mora as the number 10 behind the two forwards.

Roma travel to Lecce for Serie A's second matchday after successive opening-weekend victories. Both sides won their first fixtures: Lecce beat Venezia, while Roma produced a dominant performance against Fiorentina. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini will deploy the same forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen that proved effective in the Florence victory. Rodrigo Mora is in line for another start in midfield. Lecce boss Di Francesco is considering Geubbels from the start despite an underwhelming debut, as both sides seek to maintain their winning momentum in gameweek two.

Roma line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation for their second Serie A match of the season at Lecce on Monday, 31 August, with Matías Soulé replacing Rodrigo Mora in attack as the only change from their opening-day win over Fiorentina. The side shows Mile Svilar in goal, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence, Emanuele Lulli and Bryan Cristante in midfield with Manu Koné, Wesley providing width, Soulé in the No. 10 role and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as forwards. Gian Piero Gasperini keeps the bulk of the XI unchanged, with Nahuel Molina, Leonardo Balerdi and Marten de Roon among those on the bench. Lecce, managed by Di Francesco, set out in a 4-3-3 with Falcone in goal and deploy Ndaba, Gaspar, Siebert and Veiga across their back four.

Roma completed two signings to strengthen their roster experience after failing to land their initial targets. Marten de Roon arrived from Atalanta after requesting to leave when manager Maurizio Sarri took charge, while Leonardo Balerdi joined on loan from Olympique Marseille with a €15M conditional obligation to buy. The club abandoned pursuit of fullback Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce after discovering the severity of his injury was worse than expected and declined to revise terms; youth product Emanuele Lulli has since proven serviceable at the position. Morato remained at Marseille after Nottingham Forest insisted on a permanent deal rather than the loan arrangement Roma sought; the defender departs having made 200 appearances over six seasons. The De Roon signing represents a strategic pivot away from signings made by the previous director that lacked head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's backing. De Roon will replace Neil El Aynaoui in the midfield, though El Aynaoui never quite fulfilled the potential he demonstrated at Lens. Roma are exploring additions to the forward line should opportunities arise, working on moves for Zenit's Luiz Henrique and Stuttgart's Jamie Leweling, according to reports. These potential signings could accelerate if Matías Soulé departs the club. El Aynaoui is headed to RB Leipzig for a potential €29M package, Sky reports. The strategic direction reflects Roma's preference for established performers unlikely to cause disruption while delivering solid contributions when selected.