On Thursday evening, struggling Serie A outfit Spezia host promotion-chasing Serie B team Lecce in the second round of the Coppa Italia.
Spezia are just two points outside the relegation zone in Serie A after a poor recent run of form. In fact, the home team has won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions.
📸 #RomaSpezia pic.twitter.com/jZqqHlZmOT— Spezia Calcio (@acspezia) December 13, 2021
📸 #RomaSpezia pic.twitter.com/jZqqHlZmOT
A 2-0 defeat at Roma last time out means they are winless in five games, having suffered four defeats in the process.
Spezia have a decent recent record in the Coppa Italia, though, having won three of their last five games in the competition in 90 minutes and one in extra time.
The hosts made it to the quarter-finals of last season’s competition, only to suffer a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Napoli.
The hosts also have a good recent home record in the Coppa Italia, having won four of their last five matches in the competition on home soil.
Lecce are in the hunt for promotion back to Serie A this season and currently sit just two points outside the automatic promotion spots in Serie B. Promotion is certainly the visitor’s priority, but this game will test the visitor’s top-flight credentials.
Lecce heads into this game having lost just one of their last 16 matches in all competitions. A 1-0 defeat at Pisa last time out ended a 15-game unbeaten run for the visitors.
The visitors have a mixed recent record in the Coppa Italia, although they have won just three of their last eight matches in the competition in 90 minutes. Lecce have also won just one of their last five away games in the Coppa Italia.
Forebet predicts that Lecce will hold Spezia to a low-scoring drawing with the game settled by extra-time or a penalty shootout.