Lecce vs AS Roma prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-02-10 17:00.
Two second-half goals against fellow Serie A (SA) newcomers Cremonese ended Lecce’s four-game winless streak (D2, L2) and saw them move towards the relative safety of midtable. There’s now plenty of optimism in the picturesque Salento region thanks to Lecce accumulating 23 points after 21 SA rounds – their most in the top-flight since 2004/05.
The arrival of top-four contenders Roma doesn’t necessarily mean trouble for the hosts as Lecce are unbeaten in three of their four SA matches at Via del Mare against current top-six sides (W2, D1), with those three games all coming across their last four home matches. Despite that recent form, Lecce have only collected 11 of their 23 points at home this season, so fans will be wary of the arrival of a Roma side that they’ve lost to in four straight matchups.
A 2-0 win thanks to a brace of early headed goals from Paulo Dybala corners saw Roma register their fourth SA victory from six league matches so far in 2023 (D1, L1), and helped them move into the top four. Set-piece goals have been a theme for Roma this season and account for a remarkable 43% of their 28 league strikes!
Expect Roma to travel south with confidence given their recent record against the hosts and the fact that they are unbeaten in all seven league away matches against sides that start this round tenth or lower (W5, D2). That run has helped them collect more points on their travels than at home (21 vs 19) and means Roma are also one of few sides to score a higher proportion of their league goals on the road (57%), whilst the end of the Nicolò Zaniolo transfer saga, who looks to be Galatasaray-bound, should only further help the mood in the squad.
Players to watch: Lecce’s Gabriel Strefezza has scored in consecutive SA matches and can make it three in a row for the second time this season, with his first such run seeing him open the scoring against Roma. Despite injuring himself when converting a game-winning penalty in the reverse fixture, Dybala will look forward to playing Lecce as he has scored in each of his previous three H2Hs (G3).
Hot stat: Roma have won all seven SA matches this season that saw them lead at half-time.