Second clash-salvation and second defeat for Marco Baroni’s team: the hero is the Senegalese, author of the advantage and the assist of doubling. Strefezza’s 2-1 was useless
It all happens in the first half during Lecce-Salernitanaclash-salvation that sees the Salento defeated 2-1 at the Via del Mare: Yes opens the dance after five minutes and then inspires (involuntarily) the doubling of Villena at 19′. The Giallorossi shorten with Strefezza (23′) and push in the second half with Di Francesco, but still go knockout. Lecce stopped at 20 points, Salernitana overtakes him with 21 points. Nicola returns to success after almost three months.
THE MATCH
Davide Nicola smiles, returning to success after almost three months with his Salernitana: the last joy was dated October 30, away against Lazio, and a 2-1 victory over Lecce arrives at the Via del Mare. Definitely pleasant first half at Via del Mare, with the challenge unlocking practically immediately: Pezzella misses the header and activates Dia, who coordinates and strikes Falcone from the edge. Advantage of Salernitana, which immediately goes close to doubling with Sambia, but this time the former Sampdoria deflects with a prodigious backstroke. The Campania side dominate, saving themselves from Umtiti’s attempt and doubling their lead in the 19th minute: Dia misses the assist for Piątek, but the ball reaches Vilhena who beats Falcone and finds the third goal of the season. It all seems over for Lecce, who are back in the match three minutes later: on Pezzella’s cross, Strefezza’s control is imprecise, but the Italian-Brazilian knows how to correct him and mock Ochoa. The Giallorossi charged up, driven by the Via del Mare, and went close to par on two occasions. First it’s Sambia who saves everything on the line, avoiding Colombo’s goal, then it’s up to Ochoa to make a great save on Blin. So we go to the rest at 2-1 for the guests, and the start of the second half is also sparkling: Dia hits the post, Di Francesco worries Ochoa. Maleh and Coulibaly were injured, but the rhythms did not change and the opportunities flocked: halfway through the second half, Sambia committed Falcone on a free-kick, while Ochoa surpassed the possessed Di Francesco. The full-back came close to scoring again in the 80th minute, hitting just wide, and Ceesay also missed with his header. It ends 2-1 for Salernitana, who defeat Lecce: for the Salento, stuck at 20 points and overtaken by Campania (21), comes the second knockout in as many direct clashes.
REPORT CARDS
Of Francis 6.5 – One wonders why it wasn’t deployed from the start. He takes over and participates in every offensive action of Lecce, making himself dangerous from distance and constantly creating superiority.
Oudin 5 – The Frenchman is Baroni’s surprise move, but he misses everything wrong and does not provide cover for Pezzella, leaving his lane uncovered. He is (rightly) replaced in the interval.
Journey 7 – For the third time in this league, he provides one goal and one assist. His control and shot for the 1-0 in Campania were beautiful, the winning pass for Vilhena fortuitous in the double action: he wanted to serve Piątek, he missed his aim and luck and Candreva’s veil helped him. The best of the match, he rises to 8 goals and 4 assists for the season.
Coulibaly 6.5 – Perpetual motion for the grenade midfielder. He runs tirelessly and is even stronger than the injury: he collapses on the ground for the first time, but still manages to save the result before leaving the field. Heroic.
THE TABLE
LECCE (4-3-3) – Falcone 6.5; Gendrey 5.5, Baschirotto 5.5, Umtiti 5.5, Pezzella 6; Blin 5.5 (33′ st Askildsen sv), Wheelman 6.5, Maleh 6 (10′ st Gonzalez 6); Strefezza 6.5 (33′ st Banda sv), Colombo 6 (25′ st Ceesay 5.5), Oudin 5 (1′ st Di Francesco 6.5). All. Barons. Available: Bleve, Brancolini, Tuia, Helgason, Gallo, Persson, Lemmens, Cassandro.
SALERNITANA (4-3-3) – Ochoa 6.5; Zambia 6.5 (37′ st Lovato st), Troost-Ekong 6, Bronn 5.5, Bradaric 5.5; Vilhena 6.5 (40′ st Kastanos sv), Bohinen 6 (1′ st Nicolussi Caviglia 6), Coulibaly 6.5 (17′ st Črnigoj 6); Candreva 6, Piątek 6, Dia 7. All. Nicola. Available: Fiorillo, Sepe, Daniliuc, Bonazzoli, Botheim, Valencia, Radovanovic, Pirola.
Referee: Massa.
Markers: 5′ Dia (S), 19′ Vilhena (S), 23′ Strefezza (L).
Ammonite yourself: Coulibaly (S), Bradaric (S), Maleh (L), Baschirotto (L), Sambia (S), Nicolussi Caviglia (S).
THE STATISTICS
Boulaye Dia has both scored and assisted in three league games this season, no player has done so more in Serie A 2022/23.
Among the players without active assists in this Serie A only Marko Arnautovic (eight) and Beto (seven) have scored more than Gabriel Strefezza (six).
In the top 5 European leagues, only Bournemouth (23), Elche and Strasbourg (22) have conceded more goals in the first half than Salernitana (21).
Lecce have conceded at least two goals in each of their last three Serie A matches, the Salento’s longest run in the competition since July 2020 (run of six in the event).
Salernitana had four shots on target in the first half; the only other first half this season in which he had four shots on goal was against Sampdoria last August.
Against Salernitana, Lecce recorded 60.4% of ball possession, the highest figure for the Salentini in this Serie A championship.
First assist in this Serie A championship for Giuseppe Pezzella: the Lecce full-back had not recorded a winning pass in the competition since December 2021, when he wore the Atalanta shirt.
Three saves for Guillermo Ochoa against Lecce: since his arrival at Salernitana in January 2023, the Mexican is the goalkeeper who has made the most in the top 5 European leagues (26).
Junior Sambia had two shots on target against Lecce: no Salernitana midfielder has kicked on goal more than once in a single Serie A match this year.
