Lecce and Atalanta name starting lineups for Serie A clash
Lecce host Atalanta in Serie A's Monday afternoon fixture, with both teams confirming their starting lineups for the match at the Via del Mare stadium. Lecce coach Luca Gotti has opted to start striker Walid Cheddira in attack, supported by an attacking trio of Nicola Pierotti, Youssef Maleh, and Lameck Banda. Atalanta's new manager Raffaele Palladino has selected a front three led by Nikola Krstovic, with Charles De Ketelaere and Nicola Zalewski in support.
Cheddira's inclusion comes as he is preferred over fellow forward Kastriot Dermaku for this crucial match. The Moroccan international, who is on loan from Napoli with an obligation to buy, has scored four league goals this season. His selection indicates Gotti's intent to pose a direct physical challenge to Atalanta's three-man defense, which features Giorgio Scalvini, Berat Djimsiti, and Sead Kolasinac.
For Atalanta, Palladino's first official lineup since taking over from Gian Piero Gasperini shows a clear tactical identity. The midfield is anchored by the experienced Marten de Roon alongside Brazilian Ederson, with Davide Zappacosta and youth product Tommaso Bernasconi providing width. The choice to start Krstovic, the Montenegrin striker who joined from Sporting CP last summer, over the likes of Luis Muriel or Duván Zapata, signals a shift in attacking focus for La Dea.
The match carries significant weight for both sides in the Serie A table. According to the league standings, Atalanta are fighting for European qualification, while Lecce are seeking points to secure their top-flight status for another season. The tactical battle between Gotti's 4-2-3-1 and Palladino's 3-4-2-1 will be a key subplot, particularly in how Lecce's double pivot of Ylber Ramadani and Joan Gonzàlez copes with Atalanta's creative forces in De Ketelaere and Zalewski.
Player availability has influenced both selections. Lecce are without the injured Pontus Almqvist, while Atalanta miss key midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. The return of Marin Pongracic to the Lecce bench provides defensive cover, but Gotti has chosen to start the relatively untested duo of Ahmed Touba and Kastriot Dermaku in central defense. For Atalanta, the inclusion of 19-year-old Bernasconi at left wing-back is a notable show of faith in the club's academy system by Palladino.
The fixture represents a new chapter for Atalanta under Palladino, who will be eager to start his tenure with a positive result away from home. For Lecce, the match is an opportunity to build momentum in their final stretch of the season. The performance of Cheddira, in particular, will be closely watched as Lecce looks to him to provide the decisive goal threat against a robust Atalanta side.
