Up to third thanks to another win last weekend, Roma aim to keep their foot on the gas down in Lecce, when they visit Stadio Via del Mare on Saturday.
While the capital club have won four from six in Serie A since the winter break, their southern counterparts had gone without victory for four games before seeing off Roma's Coppa Italia conquerors Cremonese.
Match preview
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After falling victim to a cup shock a few days before, last time out Roma redeemed themselves at the first available opportunity, as they stayed on track for a top-four finish in Serie A by beating in-form Empoli.
A lightning-fast start put Jose Mourinho's men on course for what became a 2-0 win over the Tuscans - who had previously gone unbeaten in six games - with both Roger Ibanez and Tammy Abraham on target inside the first few minutes at Stadio Olimpico.
After 21 games, Roma now have eight points more than at this stage last season, and adding another clean sheet to their tally highlights the main reason behind their improvement: despite having scored seven fewer goals to this point, they have also conceded 10 fewer at the other end.
Before meeting Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League knockout phase next week, last year's Europa Conference League winners will now tackle a club they have traditionally dominated in the Italian top flight.
Roma have lost only two of 33 Serie A meetings with Lecce in the past, winning on 23 occasions, and their last league defeat to the Salentini came back in 2012.
They were pushed hard in October's reverse fixture, when Paulo Dybala's penalty ultimately earned a 2-1 victory in Rome, but in their first game since the departure of former golden boy Nicolo Zaniolo, they will expect to keep their top-four challenge on track by taking the points home.
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Having conceded at least once in their last 19 league meetings with Roma - during which time they have shipped goals at an average of 2.4 per game - Lecce's last clean sheet against their fellow Giallorossi dates back to April 2000, in a goalless draw at Via del Mare.
Inside the top half of Serie A's defensive rankings for the current campaign, though, they may fancy their chances of holding firm this weekend, as they seek back-to-back victories.
Marco Baroni's men had lost successive matches following a defeat to Salernitana at the end of January, but last week managed to secure just a third away win since returning to the top tier as Serie B champions.
Second-half goals from Federico Baschirotto and top scorer Gabriel Strefezza saw Lecce over the line against rock-bottom Cremonese, and they now sit nine points clear of the drop zone as a result.
However, Baroni will be acutely aware of his side's shortcomings in certain areas, as not only do they have the lowest possession figures in Serie A but have also conceded 42% of their goals from set pieces – a league high. As Roma boast the highest percentage of goals from dead-ball situations (43%, or 16 out of 28), that could present the hosts with some problems on Saturday.
Team News
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With Nicolo Zaniolo's eventful time in the Eternal City now finally at its end - the Italy international this week agreed a deal to join Galatasaray - Roma's front line should again feature Tammy Abraham, captain Lorenzo Pellegrini and leading scorer Paulo Dybala.
The latter, who must overcome a back problem to be passed fit, has scored in each of his league appearances against Lecce in the past - three goals in as many games - while fellow forward Andrea Belotti is yet to net a single Serie A strike this season so remains consigned to the bench.
Leonardo Spinazzola is the visitors' only major absentee, as a thigh injury will keep the wing-back sidelined until mid-March. Therefore, Nicola Zalewski is joined by either Zeki Celik or Stephan El Shaarawy on the flanks.
Meanwhile, January loan signing Youssef Maleh (ankle) is a major doubt for Lecce, while Marin Pongracic (ankle) and Kastriot Dermaku (thigh) remain ruled out.
Up front for the home side, who generally operate in a 4-3-3 system, Lorenzo Colombo is supported by Federico Di Francesco and Brazilian winger Gabriel Strefezza.
Strefezza has scored seven Serie A goals this term - at least three more than any teammate; accounting for 33% of Lecce's league total.
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Pezzella; Blin, Hjulmand, Gonzalez; Strefezza, Colombo, Di Francesco
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Zalewski, Matic, Cristante, El Shaarawy; Pellegrini, Dybala; Abraham
We say: Lecce 1-1 Roma
Only three teams have returned from Via del Mare with maximum points this season, so Lecce should prove a tough nut to crack for in-form Roma. Indeed, a low-scoring draw could be on the cards in this tussle between two well-drilled sides.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
