Lecce managed to secure a 1-1 draw against Empoli in a tightly contested Serie A match at the Stadio Via del Mare on Friday evening. Santiago Pierotti’s equalizer canceled out Pietro Pellegri’s first-half goal, which had given Empoli the lead.
Luca Gotti opted for Nikola Krstovic as his main striker, while Roberto D’Aversa implemented a 3-5-2 formation featuring Lorenzo Colombo and Pellegri, who had recently scored his first goal for Empoli against Como. Pellegri opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the area that found the bottom corner, celebrating with a signature move reminiscent of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Lecce nearly equalized shortly after with Krstovic’s header from Patrick Dorgu’s cross, but it was Libero Cacace who almost doubled Empoli’s lead with a shot that hit the post after being deflected by Wladimiro Falcone.
The turning point for Lecce came when Pierotti initiated and concluded a well-timed attack. He headed home Antonio Gallo’s cross to level the score. Lecce continued to press forward, with Nicola Sansone hitting the woodwork from a free-kick and Krstovic also striking the bar from a corner.
The draw allowed both teams to move up slightly in the standings; Lecce climbed to 18th place but remained in the relegation zone, while Empoli moved into the top half of the table at 10th.
Goals: Pellegri (E) 33’, Pierotti 77’ (L)
Lecce (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Guilbert (78′ Rebic), Gaspar, Baschiotto, Gallo; Oudin (63′ Sansone), Ramadani (63′ Coulibaly), Rafia; Dorgu, Krstovic, Banda (20′ Pierotti)
Empoli (3-5-2): Vasquez; Goglichidze (61′ De Sciglio), Ismajli, Viti; Gyasi, Henderson, Haas, Maleh (80′ Ekong), Cacace (80′ Sambia); Pellegri (67′ Solbakken), Colombo.
