Lecce — Cagliari : Match Preview and Prediction for September 19,2025

Lecce’s Troubled Start

Lecce has endured an undeniably dismal start to the current season. While their schedule hasn’t been particularly forgiving, featuring tough opponents like Milan (0-2) and Atalanta (1-4) in addition to a draw against Genoa (0-0), their current 20th and last place standing is entirely merited.

Questionable Coaching Appointment

The decision to appoint Eusebio Di Francesco as head coach has raised quite a few eyebrows. While he did achieve notable success with Sassuolo some time ago, his subsequent stints have been marred by consistent failures. He didn’t last long at Roma, and in the last two Serie A campaigns, he oversaw relegations with both Verona and Frosinone. It’s rather puzzling how he’s managed to secure another top-flight coaching position.

Defensive and Offensive Struggles

The home side is grappling with immense problems across both their attacking and defensive lines. They have only managed to score once in three matches, averaging a mere 0.33 goals per game. Conceding a staggering six goals further highlights their defensive frailties. While Di Francesco’s defensive approach seemed somewhat effective during his time at Venezia, it’s clearly not working for Lecce at the moment.

A Glimmer of Hope

Their sole positive result so far came in the Coppa Italia 1/32 final, where they secured a 2-0 victory over Juve Stabia.

Lecce’s Injury Report

The Italian coach will be without three key players: Pierre, Jean, and Marchwinski.

Cagliari’s Promising Start

Cagliari, in stark contrast to their opponents, has not been struggling. They successfully navigated the national cup, beating Virtus Entella (1-1, pen.: 5-4), and have since collected four out of a possible nine points in the league.

Recent League Performances

The visitors managed to secure a valuable draw in the opening round against Fiorentina (1-1). Their second fixture pitted them against the reigning champions, Napoli. They put up a commendable fight but ultimately succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Fabio Pisacane’s squad then fully redeemed themselves by decisively beating Parma (2-0) at home. This run of results has seen them climb to eighth position, just two points shy of the European qualification spots.

Successful Transfer Strategy

The Rossoblu management executed a strong transfer campaign, securing both permanent and loan deals for several high-caliber players, particularly for a team of their standing. These include Andrea Belotti (from Como), Ze Pedro (Porto), Sebastiano Esposito (Inter), Gianluca Gaetano and Roberto Caprile (both from Napoli), and Michel Adopo (Atalanta). Notably, their only significant departure was Roberto Piccoli, who moved to Fiorentina for 25 million euros.

Cagliari’s Injury Update

Pisacane also benefits from a relatively clear injury list, with only Luvumbo and Radunovic sidelined for this match.