Lecce claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over Genoa at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, with Lameck Banda's early strike proving decisive in a match that saw the hosts absorb significant pressure.
Both teams entered the contest fighting for Serie A survival. Lecce occupied 17th place with 38 points from 38 matches, while Genoa sat one position higher with 41 points. The visitors arrived in poor form, winless in their last four outings. Lecce showed marginal improvement but remained in the relegation battle.
The match exploded into life in the opening minutes. Banda struck in the 6th minute, capitalizing on Lecce's aggressive start to fire the hosts ahead. The Zambian winger showed composure to finish after finding space in the box.
Lecce's early pressure created chances throughout the opening stages. The home side looked dangerous on the counter-attack. However, Genoa gradually settled into the contest and began to dominate possession.
The visitors controlled the ball but struggled to create clear opportunities. Their attacking play lacked precision in the final third. Lecce defended resolutely, frustrating Genoa's attempts to find an equalizer.
Yellow cards arrived for Lecce as the first half progressed. Yannis Ramadani received a caution in the 45th minute. The hosts maintained their defensive shape heading into the break.
The second half saw Genoa press harder for an equalizer. They dominated possession but found Lecce's defense difficult to break down. The home side remained compact and organized throughout.
Tiago Gabriel picked up a yellow card in the 76th minute for Lecce. The hosts showed discipline despite sustained pressure from their opponents. Genoa created chances but failed to find the breakthrough.
Lecce managed just one shot on target but made it count. Genoa accumulated more attempts, registering just one shot on target from eight total efforts. The expected goals told a similar story: Lecce 1.76, Genoa 0.77.
Possession statistics heavily favored the visitors, who controlled the ball 68 percent to 32 percent. Genoa completed 426 of 505 passes with 84 percent accuracy. Lecce's 241 passes featured 175 accurate deliveries at 73 percent.
Antonino Gallo impressed for Lecce with a 7.7 rating, while goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone made one crucial save. Genoa's Nicola Leali recorded three saves to keep his team in the contest. Banda's goal proved enough to secure three vital points.
The victory lifts Lecce to 41 points but leaves them in the relegation zone. Genoa's defeat drops them to 41 points as well, maintaining their precarious league position. Both sides face critical matches ahead in their fight for survival.
