Lecce vs Torino: both looking to reset

Lecce and Torino clash at the Via del Mare, both hoping to get back on track. The Giallorossi on the back of their win over Fiorentina and draw with Verona, lost to Lazio in Rome last weekend. Four points ahead sit Torino, still stung by last week’s heavy 5-1 home loss to Como – a result that dented the mood and their prospects in the league. Three points in Puglia could fix both.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official encounters at the Via del Mare between the two sides number 17: 7 Salentini victories (the last 1-0 in last season's Serie A), 5 draws (the last 3-3 in Serie A 2008/09) and 5 Granata wins (the last 0-1 in Serie A 2023/24). A historic clash was on June 25, 1989, the final matchday of Serie A 1988/89: both teams embroiled in the relegation battle, the Salentini won 3-1 with goals from Benedetti, Barbas and Paciocco for the Giallorossi, Fuser for the Granata. Pugliesi therefore safe, Torino relegated to Serie B.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lecce on a 247-minute goal drought: the last scored by Berisha in the 23rd minute of Fiorentina-Lecce 0-1, last November 2. At the Via del Mare, the Giallorossi have been scoreless for 3 matches, last goal scored by Camarda in the 94th minute of Lecce-Bologna 2-2 on September 28. Two of the 6 teams in Serie A 2025/26 with the most 0-0 draws face each other: 3 times each, like Como, Pisa, Parma and Verona. Torino are the team conceding the most goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half, 6.

COACHES and PLAYERS

Between Eusebio Di Francesco and Marco Baroni, eighth meeting as managers: in the 7 previous encounters, 4 wins for the Lecce coach, 1 win for the Granata manager and 2 draws. Eusebio Di Francesco has reached 199 positive results in Serie A, consisting of 106 wins and 93 draws in 344 total matches in charge. The first dates back to September 18, 2011, a Bologna-Lecce 0-2. Eusebio Di Francesco has never won at home while managing Lecce: 12 matches in charge at the Via del Mare between the 2011/12 season and the current one, with 4 draws and 8 defeats, 7 of which without scoring. Ex of the matchday is Marco Baroni, who managed Lecce for two seasons, leading them to promotion to Serie A in 2021/22 and securing survival the following season with 90 minutes to spare. For him in Giallorossi colours, a total of 29 wins, 26 draws and 25 defeats in 80 official matches in charge. Baroni also wore the Salentini shirt as a player in the 1986/87 (Serie B) and 1987/88 (Serie A) seasons, with promotion to the top division and a total of 68 appearances and 5 goals.

DISCIPLINE

Suspended: none Cautioned: Gaspar (Lecce)

REFEREE

MARIANI (COLAROSSI – RICCI) IV: SACCHI J.L., VAR: MARINI, AVAR: FOURNEAU

UPCOMING MATCHES IN SERIE A

Cremonese-Lecce (Sunday, December 7, 12.30 CET) Torino-Milan (Monday, December 8, 20.45 CET) (Photo Getty Images)