Kicking off a new campaign in the Coppa Italia, Lecce and Juve Stabia will lock horns in a first-round tie on Friday.
The two southern sides clash at Via del Mare, which will host Serie A football again this season, following the Salentini's latest escape from relegation.
Match preview
Only ahead of 18th-placed Empoli due to a superior head-to-head record before kickoff, Lecce defied expectations to seal survival with a shock win at Lazio on last season's final matchday.
Marco Giampaolo's men had beaten Torino one week earlier, ending a painful four-month wait for maximum points and setting up such a dramatic finale at Stadio Olimpico, where they prevailed despite going down to 10 men.
Ultimately, the Salentini extended their three-year stay in Italy's top tier by the skin of their teeth, having belatedly pulled off consecutive Serie A wins for the first time in 12 months.
Amid a familiar coaching merry-go-round, Giampaolo still departed, with Eusebio Di Francesco soon returning for his second spell at Via del Mare.
Having suffered successive relegations with Frosinone and Venezia, the ex-Roma coach will surely have something to prove, and his new team start their league campaign in Genoa next weekend.
First, though, Lecce begin their latest quest to at least reach the cup semi-finals - a feat they have yet to achieve in 55 previous attempts.
Andrea Adorante celebrates scoring for Juve Stabia on May 21, 2025
As an even more modest club, Juve Stabia have barely made an impact on the Coppa Italia, but they are intent on winning Friday's tie to set up a clash with AC Milan or Bari in round two.
Former Milan man Ignazio Abate is their new head coach for 2025-26, having taken over from Empoli-bound Guido Pagliuca earlier this summer.
Last term ended on a sour note for Le Vespe, who finished fifth but were well beaten by Cremonese in the Serie B playoffs, suffering a 3-0 defeat in the second leg of their semi-final.
Under Pagliuca, Juve Stabia endured a particularly tough time on their travels, winning just one of 10 away games in 2025 - and none since a 2-1 success at Cesena in March.
Abate will hope to start turning that form around this weekend, eight days before the Campanian club's league opener at Virtus Entella.
Lecce pre-season form: W L W D
Juve Stabia pre-season form: W W
Team News
Nikola Krstovic of Lecce, October 2024
Lecce lost 3-1 to the UAE national team in pre-season but also beat Spezia and Carrarese, allowing Eusebio Di Francesco to run his eye over a large squad.
While the Giallorossi have added Milan prospect Francesco Camarda and Fiorentina loanee Riccardo Sottil this summer, captain and defensive rock Federico Baschirotto has joined Cremonese.
Last term's top scorer Nikola Krstovic could soon leave too; fellow forward Santiago Pierotti is also the subject of strong interest from teams higher up the foodchain.
Both battling their way back from serious injury, Gaby Jean and Filip Marchwinski are still unavailable, while Matias Perez is a doubt.
Eyeing another promotion push, Juve Stabia have been very busy refreshing their squad, including the loan signing of Lecce's Rares Burnete.
They have, though, lost star striker Andrea Adorante to Venezia, after he netted 15 goals in Serie B last season.
In his absence, Leonardo Candellone will shoulder the burden up front, possibly supported by Inter Milan-owned teenager Giacomo De Pieri.
Lecce possible starting lineup: Falcone; Kouassi, Gaspar, Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Pierret, Berisha; Pierotti, Krstovic, Sottil
Juve Stabia possible starting lineup: Confente; Ruggero, Varnier, Bellich; Mannini, Leone, Battistella, Carissoni; Piscopo, De Pieri; Candellone
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We say: Lecce 2-0 Juve Stabia
While Lecce are traditionally strong at home, Juve Stabia have struggled to pick up results on the road throughout 2025.
Even some fresh faces and a new coach will not help Le Vespe sting their hosts, so the Serie A side should march on.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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