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·1 April 2024

Serie A | Lecce 0-0 Roma: Goalless thriller

Both Lecce and Roma were left with regrets after wasting numerous scoring opportunities in a game that somehow ended goalless.

Lorenzo Pellegrini was suspended with Sardar Azmoun and Rasmus Kristensen injured, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Spinazzola not fully fit either, so Tommaso Baldanzi got a rare start. The hosts missed Kastriot Dermaku, Mohamed Kaba and Jeppe Corfitzen, while Nicola Sansone and William Banda were not at 100 per cent. New coach Luca Gotti won his debut against Salernitana before the break for international duty.

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Wladimiro Falcone was alert on a Leandro Paredes in-swinging corner, but Evan Ndicka received an early yellow card and will be suspended for the Derby della Capitale against Lazio.

Roberto Piccoli drilled just wide from a Patrick Dorgu pass, as did Antonino Gallo with the aid of a deflection after his surge forward, while Gianluca Mancini charged down the Ylber Ramadani volley.

Mile Svilar had his gloves stung by Dorgu at the near post following another error in midfield, then had to make a tricky save on Piccoli, preventing Krstovic from pouncing on the rebound.

Lecce wasted numerous chances in the first half, Piccoli turning Ndicka only to fire over from a tight angle, while Nicola Zalewski couldn’t keep the finish down on Tommaso Baldanzi’s cross to the back post.

Yet Roma almost scored on the stroke of half-time, as a free kick was touched on for Angelino, the daisy-cutter clipping the base of the far post.

Zalewski had penalty appeals after the restart, but Falcone and Alexis Blin all went in together as the Paredes corner came to the back post.

Lecce really should’ve taken the lead on 67 minutes, but wasted a golden opportunity on the counter-attack when Krstovic rolled across for Dorgu to somehow drill wide undisturbed from 12 yards.

Roma wasted their own huge chance moments later, an inspired Stephan El Shaarawy back-heel flick sending Houssem Aouar clear on goal, but he fired at Falcone one-on-one.

Lameck Banda’s scorcher was fingertipped over the bar by Svilar, then on the resulting corner Nicola Sansone turned off target after a chest and half-volley.