Verona vs. Lecce: a battle for survival

Survival means very different things for the two sides: a distant hope for Verona, who sit ten points adrift of third-bottom Lecce, but a very real objective for the visitors. The hosts must win to end a run of five straight defeats and keep their slim chances alive. Lecce, meanwhile, will look to build on last week’s draw with Fiorentina as they aim to move out of the relegation zone.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The official head-to-head record between the two sides in Verona stands at 24 meetings: 12 Scaligeri wins (the most recent 2-0, Serie A 2022/23), 9 draws (the most recent 1-1, Serie A 2024/25) and 3 Salento victories (the most recent 0-2, Serie B 2018/19).

Lecce's very first Serie A match was played in Verona on 8 September 1985, a 2-2 draw with goals from Elkjaer and Di Gennaro for the home side, and Nobile and Paciocco for the Salentini.

DID YOU KNOW?

Verona are the 2025/26 Serie A side with the fewest different goalscorers (10, level with Torino).

Verona have lost 8 of their last 9 Serie A matchdays. Their only positive result in that run came on 8 March 2026 (Bologna 1-2 Verona, Serie A 2025/26).

Verona are the 2025/26 Serie A side that receives the most yellow cards (73, level with Fiorentina).

Verona have not won at home since 6 December 2025 (Verona 3-1 Atalanta, Serie A). In the subsequent 9 home matches, 1 draw and 8 defeats. Verona have gone 296 minutes without scoring at home. Their last goal was scored by Akpa Akpro in the 64th minute of Verona 1-2 Napoli on 28 February 2026.

The two lowest-scoring sides in the 2025/26 Serie A season go head-to-head: Verona (23) and Lecce (22).

Verona are the 2025/26 Serie A side that concedes the most shots from outside the penalty area per match (5.5).

Verona are the 2025/26 Serie A side that commits the most fouls per match (15.8).

Verona are the 2025/26 Serie A side that makes the most interceptions per match (37.6).

Verona are the side that scores the fewest goals through substitutes (2, level with Udinese).

Only Pisa (21.7) win more aerial duels per match in the 2025/26 Serie A season than Verona (21).

Only Pisa (13.9) win more tackles per match in the 2025/26 Serie A season than Verona and Lecce (13.6).

Lecce are the 2025/26 Serie A side that has taken the fewest penalties (2, level with Parma and Cagliari).

Two of the 3 sides in the 2025/26 Serie A season that concede the most goals from opposition substitutes go head-to-head (11, level with Pisa).

Lecce have drawn their last five matches. Their last win came on 8 March 2026 (Lecce 2–1 Cremonese, Serie A).

COACHES and PLAYERS

This is the first official meeting between Paolo Sammarco and Eusebio Di Francesco.

Eusebio Di Francesco, the former manager of the day: he managed the Verona side from July to September 2021, recording 1 win and 3 defeats in 4 official matches.

No player wins more duels in Serie A 2025/26 than Victor Nelsson (215).

No player wins more tackles in Serie A 2025/26 than Santiago Pierotti (72).

No player makes more attacking recoveries (91) in Serie A 2025/26 than Ylber Ramadani.

Only Arijanet Muric (79) makes more saves from shots inside the penalty area in Serie A 2025/26 than Wladimiro Falcone (77).

Amin Sarr (Verona) and Konan Ndri (Lecce) are two of the three players in Serie A 2025/26 who come on as substitutes most often during a match (22), along with Caleb Ekuban (Genoa).

DISCIPLINE 

Suspended: Tiago Gabriel (Lecce)

Cautioned: Orban, Nelsson, Valentini, El Musrati (Verona)

REFEREE

MASSA (MELI – ALASSIO) IV: MARCENARO, VAR: DI PAOLO, AVAR: GARIGLIO

UPCOMING MATCHES

Juventus-Verona (Sunday May 3rd, 18.00 CEST)

Pisa-Lecce (Friday May 1st, 20.45 CEST)

(Photo Getty Images)