Bologna’s afternoon against Lecce opens with an immediate decision from Raffaele Palladino: Matteo Darmian is handed a starting place straight after his arrival, joining Torbjorn Heggem and Nicolò Casale in the back three.
Key takeaways
- Darmian makes his first Bologna start following his move from Inter.
- Lecce line up with Wladimiro Falcone in goal and Eusebio Di Francesco on the bench.
- Palladino’s side includes Davide Calabria? No, the wide roles are assigned to Nadir Zortea and Juan Miranda.
- Luca Pairetto of the Nichelino section is appointed referee.
- Paolo Mazzoleni will oversee VAR, with Federico Dionisi serving as assistant VAR.
Palladino reshapes the defence
Palladino has placed Darmian into the defensive unit without delay, using the former Inter player alongside Heggem and Casale. The selection gives Bologna an experienced new figure in a three-man rearguard, while Zortea and Miranda are named on the flanks.
Marco Pessina starts in goal, behind the new defensive line. In midfield, Tommaso Pobega and Lewis Ferguson are joined by Nikola Moro, while Riccardo Orsolini, Roberto Piccoli and Nicolò Cambiaghi form the attacking trio.
The Bologna XI is: Pessina; Darmian, Heggem, Casale; Zortea, Pobega, Ferguson, Miranda; Orsolini, Piccoli, Cambiaghi.
Earlier selection indications had also included Łukasz Skorupski, Arthur Theate and Nikola Moro in Palladino’s possible plans, but Darmian’s immediate inclusion is the defining choice for the afternoon.
Lecce’s attacking selection and match officials
Di Francesco sets Lecce up with Falcone behind a four-man defence of Danilo Veiga, Tiago Gabriel, Kialonda Gaspar Siebert and Antonino Gallo. Lassana Coulibaly, Ivan Ilic and Ylber Ramadani? No, Maleh is selected in the midfield line, with Pierotti and Esteban supporting Fatah in attack.
The Lecce starting side is: Falcone; Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ilic, Maleh; Pierotti, Esteban, Fatah.
Pairetto takes charge of the match, assisted by Marco Ceccon and Eugenio Scarpa. Marco Di Bello is the fourth official, while Mazzoleni and Dionisi handle the video review duties.
The 15:00 Serie A schedule also includes Genoa against Fiorentina, available live exclusively on DAZN and DAZN 1.
