Lecce Vs Inter: lecce vs inter Serie A official Week 26 line-ups

Inter hand starts to Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito as they attempt to consolidate a seven-point lead in Serie A while missing Lautaro Martinez and two suspended midfielders; the match kicks off at Stadio del Mare at 12: 00 PM ET. The fixture carries immediate significance for both sides: Inter to protect their lead, Lecce to build on back-to-back wins that have lifted them clear of the relegation zone.

Lecce Vs Inter: Team news

Inter make enforced changes after a difficult midweek in Europe that included a 3-1 defeat and a calf injury to their captain, who has been ruled out for around a month. Two midfielders are suspended for this match, prompting Davide Frattesi and Petar Sucic to step into the starting XI; Federico Dimarco was rested in Norway. Marcus Thuram and Francesco Pio Esposito start up front, with Esposito having scored in the recent away European tie.

Lecce have retained the side that won their last two league matches. A pair of injuries remain in the squad, one player recovering from a dislocated shoulder and another on the treatment table, while a player returning from suspension is named on the bench. January signings are included in the winning line-up.

Starting line-ups provided for the match:

Lecce: Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly; Pierotti, Gandelman, Sottil; Cheddira

Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito

What to watch in lecce vs inter

Inter head to the south of Italy under two immediate pressures drawn from recent results and standings. Their European defeat leaves them exposed in that competition, while domestically they remain favourites after a run of league victories. The team sits seven points clear at the top of Serie A, having posted a string of top-flight wins and several dominant away displays.

For Lecce the priority is continuity. Two consecutive wins have taken them out of the drop zone and into 17th place on 24 points, three points clear of the relegation places. Maintaining the same starting XI that produced those vital victories is a clear signal of confidence from the coaching staff.

Starting line-ups and likely impact

Forced rotations in midfield and up front change Inter’s immediate match profile. The absence of their captain and the two suspensions reduce squad depth, handing minutes to Frattesi and Sucic and shifting attacking responsibility to Thuram and Esposito. Esposito’s recent goal in Europe provides a tangible indicator of form heading into the fixture.

Lecce’s selection choices prioritize the momentum that produced wins against Udinese and Cagliari. One returning player is placed on the bench rather than restored to the starting XI, while recent signings are already integrated into the matchday eleven.

Key takeaways

• Kickoff at Stadio del Mare is at 12: 00 PM ET; Inter make several enforced changes.
• Inter sit seven points clear in Serie A but arrive off a 3-1 European loss; squad absences are notable.
• Lecce have won two on the bounce, are up to 17th on 24 points, and keep the same starting XI that achieved those results.