Gian Piero Gasperini didn’t make his usual pre-match comments ahead of Roma’s trip to Puglia to face Lecce on Tuesday. As a result, we didn’t get any insight into the Roma CT’s thoughts on his lineup for the match. However, we do know that the Giallorossi will be shorthanded, especially in defense.
For this one, Gasperini will have to do without all three of his regular center backs after both Gianluca Mancini and Mario Hermoso were yellow-carded in Roma’s loss in Bergamo. Both players will miss this one due
to yellow-card accumulation suspensions. Those are heavy losses, with Evan Ndicka already away at AFCON. Additionally, Neil El Aynaoui remains on international duty with Morocco.
On the injury front, Artem Dovbyk made his return on Saturday and could be a candidate to start. However, Roma remains without Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tommaso Baldanzi, and Leon Bailey.
With all the absences, the back three will likely consist of Jan Ziolkowski, Daniele Ghilardi, and Devyne Rensch. Zeki Çelik will play right wing-back, while Wesley plays on the left. Centering those two will be Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante.
The question is whether Dovbyk could start in place of Evan Ferguson. That being said, it’s unknown whether the Ukrainian is fit enough to go from the opening whistle. Supporting the striker will be Matías Soulé, with either Stephan El Shaarawy or Paulo Dybala.
ROMA (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Ghilardi, Ziólkowski, Rensch; Çelik, Koné, Cristante, Wesley; Soulé, El Shaarawy; Ferguson.
