Turin vs Lecce – News and Probable Lineups

After suffering defeats last week, Torino and Lecce aim to break their losing sequences when they face each other this Saturday.

While Torino has just endured two consecutive losses, their opponents are also experiencing a downward trend in the Serie A standings.

Match overview

Following a lackluster start to the season, Torino managed to enjoy their strongest stretch of league victories since 2019; however, they have struggled to maintain that form.

After securing maximum points from three successive matches, Torino faced defeats against two of Serie A’s top-performing teams – Como and Frosinone.

Initially, Ignazio Abate’s team conceded three late goals at home against Como, followed by Frosinone netting twice during the second half last weekend.

Only Udinese, who are in freefall, have conceded as many goals as Torino’s nine in the final half-hour, which raises significant concerns for Abate.

Moreover, prior to their return to Turin, their last league clean sheet at Stadio Olimpico Grande was back in early March.

Nevertheless, the Granata have kept clean sheets in all of Lecce’s last four visits, including a 1-0 victory earlier this year.

Be it at home or on the road, Lecce have lost five of their last eight Serie A encounters, failing to score in six of those matches.

Finding the back of the net has been a recurrent issue for several seasons, yet the Salentini started the current campaign on a positive note, winning two of their first four league matches.

However, they have since lost four of their next five fixtures, including a heavy 5-1 defeat against Frosinone and a 2-1 loss at home to Genoa last week.

While they might not be seen as direct relegation rivals now, back in August, those defeats would have stung more.

In his second season at the southern club, head coach Eusebio Di Françasco is likely facing another battle for survival, as his team has now dropped to 14th place.

Historically poor away performers, Lecce have managed to win half of their last eight away games, which at least allows them to travel north with some optimism.

Team News

Torino will again be without Alessio Cacciamani, who recently dislocated his shoulder, while fellow wing-backs Niccolo Fortini and Ricardo Rodriguez could return this weekend.

Another wide player, Rafik Belghali is expected to recover from a bruised knee, but midfield anchor Rolando Mandragora might be given time during the international break to fully recover from his thigh injury.

The matchwinner in this fixture last season, Che Adams is anticipated to partner Giovanni Simeone in attack; since his arrival in 2024, the Scotland striker is Torino’s leading Serie A scorer with 19 goals.

Highlighting their lack of prolific forwards, Lecce’s last eight league goals have come from as many different players – including midfielder Youssef Maleh last week.

Willem Geubbels and Lassana Coulibaly will both be assessed ahead of Saturday’s match, but Joel Monteiro strained his left calf against Genoa; Medon Berisha, Santiago Pierotti, and Ivan Ilic are still unavailable.

To bolster his options at the back, Di Françasco will be able to recall Kialonda Gaspar, who is back from a two-match suspension.

Torino probable starting XI:

Perri; Coco, Ismajli, Comuzzo; Belghali, Gineitis, Braganca, Patterson; Vlasic; Adams, Simeone

Lecce probable starting XI:

Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Gabriel, Rooster; Kaba, Earth, Lazy; N’Dri, Stulic, Fatah

Despite conceding too many goals, Torino boasts greater attacking capabilities than their constrained visitors.

Since April, Lecce has endured 14 league games without a draw, and this trend is likely to persist with their fourth successive loss.