The penultimate match of Serie A’s opening round of fixtures takes place on Monday evening, as Lecce welcome Atalanta to the Stadio Via del Mare.
Luca Gotti’s first full season at the Lecce helm is marked by the visit of the reigning Europa League winners, who fell at the chance of silverware in the Super Cup to Real Madrid last Wednesday.
A Coppa Italia victory over Serie B side Mantova last week kick-started Lecce’s season - despite needing Nikola Krstović’s late header to seal a place in the second round at home.
Gian Piero Gasparini’s team should be far from discouraged in coming up short in Warsaw, however, as the Bergamo-based side should spell trouble for just about all of their opponents this season after managing to frustrate the infamous Spaniards in parts.
Returning to this fixture, the two previous meetings swung in the favour of Atalanta last season, when they took maximum points from the two meetings with I Giallorossi.
For Lecce, just about anything on Monday night will be better than one of the more notable meetings between the two sides, when Atalanta hit them for seven in March 2020, coming away 7-2 victors on the road.
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Team news
Lecce
Manager Luca Gotti will still be without midfielder Mohamed Kaba for the season’s opener.
The Frenchman is yet to play under the new management after damaging his cruciate ligament just weeks before Gotti took over in March.
His return is not expected until at least mid-November.
Atalanta
A busier physio room will leave Atalanta without several key men for the trip south.
Sead Kolašinac was brought off 20 minutes from time on Wednesday with a muscular problem, and he will miss Monday's test.
Teun Koopmeiners remains on hiatus from Atalanta action amidst a rumoured switch to Juventus.
Meanwhile, Giorgio Scalvini, Gianluca Scamacca and Rafael Tolói all miss out through longer-term injuries.
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Likely lineups
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Gaspar, Gallo; Pierret, Ramadani; Dorgu, Marchwiński, Morente; Krstović
Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, de Roon; Ruggeri, Pašalić, Éderson, Zappacosta; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
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Key players
Lecce - Tete Morente
A new man on the Serie A block, José Antonio ‘Tete’ Morente swapped the Spanish Segunda Division for the Italian top flight on a free transfer.
At Elche, the flying winger established himself in Spain’s top two tiers, but with a new challenge in his sights, ‘Tete’ will look to announce himself to Italian audiences on Monday evening.
Well-versed on both flanks, Morente will complement rising Dane Patrick Dorgu as Gotti’s two wide attackers.
With a shooting run and eye for goal in his back pocket, the man largely unknown amongst Italian football could prove a wildcard for Lecce on Monday night.
Atalanta - Ademola Lookman
Having fired La Dea to European glory in May, Ademola Lookman can do no wrong in an Atalanta shirt, but any contributions towards a strong start in Serie A will be warmly welcomed by the travelling support.
After years of hopping around Europe, it finally feels as though the Nigerian international has a home to call his own.
With a third season in Bergamo getting underway, he will look to better last season's seventeen-goal tally, with one eye on the refreshed Champions League.
With his blistering speed to boast on Monday, Lecce will need to keep a firm eye on Atalanta's wideman in their quest for opening-day success.
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Match details
Where is the game being played?
Lecce will host their opening fixture, with the game taking place at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, Via del Mare.
What time is kick-off?
As the evening kick-off, Lecce vs Atalanta will be underway at 5:30pm (BST)
How can I watch?
TNT Sports is the home of Serie A TIM on British television, but with the match not chosen for coverage on TNT, the clash can be watched for free on the OneFootball app.
