Lecce prepared to face Inter head-on, says coach
Lecce coach Roberto D’Aversa will have his team ready to tackle its own "mission impossible" when it hosts Serie A leader Inter Milan.
The Nerazzurri have won all of their games so far in 2024 and head south with a nine-point advantage over second-placed Juventus, which has played a game more.
Lecce may have won just twice in 20 league matches as it battles to stay clear of the relegation scrap, but D’Aversa insisted his side would aim to meet Inter head on at Stadio Via del Mare.
“Inter is coming off nine consecutive victories, its statistics in 2024 are impressive, so it might seem impossible for us to get a result – but I believe nothing is impossible in football,” D’Aversa said.
“There are a few positive aspects, for example that we are on home turf. We need to cause problems for a team who played in the [UEFA] Champions League midweek [against Atletico Madrid].
“I don’t believe the idea we have nothing to lose, as there is always something to lose. We just have to give our best and see how it goes.”
Lecce will be without defenders Patrick Dorgu and Marin Pongracic through suspension, while Federico Brancolini, Jeppe Corfitzen and Kastriot Dermaku are all still injured.
D’Aversa said: “Federico Baschirotto is fit and should start tomorrow [in defence], I have two possibilities to choose from on who will be next to him.
“[Santiago] Pierotti is improving and needs time to settle, while [forward] Lameck Banda has recovered and we’ll see if he can start tomorrow.”
Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer is set to miss the game after being laid low by a flu virus, so Emil Audero is in line to make his Serie A debut, having playing only twice in the UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia.
French forward Marcus Thuram is injured, along with Francesco Acerbi and Juan Cuadrado.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi could look to rotate the line-up, with a rescheduled league game at home to Atalanta, which is chasing a top-four place, coming up later in the week.
Defender Alessandro Bastoni could be rested, as one more yellow card would see him serve a suspension.
