On the pitch at 3pm Lecce-Empoli LIVE
A match not to be missed, a direct clash that could say a lot about the cards to be played at the table of salvation. Luca Gotti's Lecce awaits Mister Nicola's Empoli at the Via del Mare in a match that promises to be full of sporting pathos due to the delicate stakes at stake. "Empoli - declared Gotti in the usual conference on the day before - has many Serie A players, and often changes their game system. Among their ranks there are players that I have coached, players who have very different characteristics. Nicola showed how he uses the entire squad available, managing to change his football proposal game after game. It's a balanced team with an important spirit." On the difficulties of the match against the Tuscans, the coach seems to have clear ideas. "The match against Empoli - he states - I believe is a different match from the previous ones. A direct clash which has great importance for what is at stake. I am convinced that we have prepared well, with the desire to face the match as best we can our possibilities." The Giallorossi trainer is explicit about the moment he is experiencing with the team. "On the one hand - he says - we have awareness and positive sensations, on the other we have weaknesses, see the goal conceded at San Siro from a corner, or the effort we make in scoring goals. What we must have in mind is that during the season there are key matches, and that is one of them. I think the locker room understands all this well." As for the lineup, with Krstovic disqualified and Banda called up for the honor of signing, it is the advanced department that causes the most concerns: "Banda - confirms Gotti - is not available, he returned from the match against Milan with a problem that continues to cause him pain: Despite everything, I called him because I intend to have a cohesive group. Burnete will also be there with the idea, if the conditions exist, of using him. He has precise characteristics, he scores and feels the goal. If the match calls for this characteristic, it could be useful ", concludes Gotti.
Empoli coach Davide Nicola presents the direct clash scheduled in Lecce, a match that can give many chances of survival to whoever manages to win it: "We cannot fail to give everything, without having the right mental intensity, regardless of the opponent we face. I asked the boys to be aware, recovering seven points from an opponent who is fighting for our goal is an enormity. They must be convinced that what they have done is the way to achieve salvation."
In the lineup there seems to be a run-off between Cerri and Niang, the former never started in the four consecutive defeats... "The results that Empoli achieved were not achieved only by these two players - underlines Nicola. We must consider that in football evaluations must be made beyond data. In the four defeats we faced strong teams. The fact that Cerri was chosen for some matches is a question of characteristics and form. We need everyone from here to the end, what the important thing is to determine. Ours is a collaboration, not a competition." On Lecce's characteristics: "They are a team that has the support of their fans at home. What counts is what the boys do and what we want to do. We must be good at applying our characteristics while taking into account their peculiarities. In the three matches I see a team from Gotti that pays attention to the opponent but doesn't give up on its own game, we should do the same thing, never giving up from now until the end. We tried to study them in depth, to bring out our qualities. We have to play a match with the belief that every ball can be decisive."
Probable lineups
Lecce (4-2-3-1): 30 Falcone; 17 Gendrey, 5 Pongracic, 6 Baschirotto, 25 Gallo; 29 Blin, 20 Ramadani; 7 Almqvist, 16 Gonzalez, 13 Dorgu; 91 Small. (21 Brancolini, 40 Samooja, 45 Burnete, 18 Berisha, 8 Rafia, 11 Sansone, 59 Touba, 10 Oudin, 50 Pierotti, 22 Banda). All.: Gotti. Disqualified: Krstovic. Resigned from booking: Rafia, Almqvist, Piccoli. Unavailable: Dermaku, Kaba.
Empoli (3-4-2-1): 25 Caprile; 19 Bereszyński, 4 Walukiewicz, 33 Luperto; 11 Gyasi, 18 Marin, 30 Bastoni, 3 Pezzella; 27 Zurkowski, 28 Cambiaghi; 17 Cerri (1 Perisan, 12 Seghetti, 2 Goglichidze, 29 Maleh, 5 Grassi, 21 Fazzini, 8 Kovalenko, 13 Cacace, 20 Cancellieri, Shpendi, 23 Destro, 9 Caputo, 10 Niang). Coach: Nicola Suspended: none Notified of a booking: Grassi Unavailable: Berisha, Ismajli, Ebuehi.
Referee: Mariani from Aprilia