Lecce vs. Atalanta: A must-win for their goals

It’s a must-win for both sides, especially at this stage of the season with 24 points still up for grabs. The home team have managed just one win in their last five matches, beating only Cremonese, while losing the other four, including the last two against Napoli and Roma. They now need to return to winning ways to try and climb out of the third-from-bottom spot. Atalanta, meanwhile, ended a difficult run with a win over Verona two weeks ago and cannot afford any more mistakes if they want to keep their European hopes alive.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

There have been 26 meetings at Lecce: Lecce have won 10 (most recently 2–1 in Serie A 2022/23), there have been nine draws (most recently 2–2 in Serie A 2008/09) and Atalanta have won seven (most recently 4–0 away in Serie A 2025/26).

DID YOU KNOW?

Lecce are the lowest-scoring team in Serie A 2025/26 (21 goals, level with Parma).

No team has scored fewer goals than Lecce in the second halves of matches in Serie A 2025/26 (8).

COACHES and PLAYERS

It will be the fifth official meeting between Eusebio Di Francesco and Raffaele Palladino: Palladino leads the head-to-head 2 wins to 1, with one draw.

Tiago Gabriel has won more duels than any other player in Serie A 2025/26 (195). The Lecce defender also leads for duels won in the defensive half (156).

Konan N’Dri (20) is the player with the most substitute appearances in Serie A 2025/26.

Only Morten Frendrup (115) has made more tackles than Santiago Pierotti (112) in Serie A 2025/26. Ylber Ramadani (96) and Marten de Roon (90) rank fourth and fifth respectively.

Nikola Krstović is a former Lecce player: the Montenegrin striker made 75 appearances and scored 20 goals for the club between 2023 and 2025.

Marten de Roon is Atalanta’s all-time appearance leader: in the match before the break against Verona, the Dutch midfielder made his 436th appearance for the club across all competitions.

No player at Italian clubs has made more appearances or played more minutes in the 2025/26 season than Marco Carnesecchi: 42 matches and 3,280 minutes for the Atalanta goalkeeper across all competitions.

Only Riccardo Orsolini (5) has hit more woodwork than Gianluca Scamacca (3) in Serie A 2025/26.

Davide Zappacosta scored against Verona: it was his second goal of the season (after his first on 9 February vs Cremonese) and the 22nd of his Serie A career.

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: none 

Cautioned: Tiago Gabriel (Lecce); Hien, Palladino (Atalanta)

REFEREE

LA PENNA (FONTEMURATO – BARONE) IV: RAPUANO, VAR: MARINI, AVAR: MAGGIONI

UPCOMING MATCHES

Bologna-Lecce (Sunday April 12th, 18.00 CEST)

Atalanta-Juventus (Saturday April 11th, 20.45 CEST)

(Photo Getty Images)