Lecce ready to play it all: either they make history or it's B

LECCE - The last game of the season, the one in which either history will be made or you will return home with the disappointment of relegation in your heart, to write your name in capital letters in the annals of the club. Three Giallorossi players could have this chance in tomorrow's match against Lazio, despite the fact that, to date, they have not managed to leave a tangible sign of their presence in the journey undertaken with the Salento team.

The players in question are Jesper Karlsson, bought on loan from Bologna at the beginning of January, Konan N'Dri, signed on a permanent basis at the end of the transfer window from OH Leuven, and Lameck Banda, in his third season with the Giallorossi, during which he was sidelined for a long time by injury.

At the Olimpico, one of the three will start on the left to replace the suspended Tete Morente, while the other two could come on, as the "tall" wingers, who Marco Giampaolo asks to move up and down to ensure their contribution in the non-possession phase, are often replaced during the match because they are subject to a considerable expenditure of energy.

None of them has given real joy to the fans so far. Either because, in the cases of the Swede and the Ivorian, it is not easy to arrive in January and fit in perfectly, subverting the existing hierarchies. Or because, as far as the Zambian is concerned, it is complicated to return to the field after a long break and find the best condition if you only play for scraps of the game.

If they have something to throw on the scales regarding the performance of their competitive season, however, the time has come to do so, trying to go down in the history of the club on Via Colonel Costadura like that Gaetano Vasari who, in 2000/2001, having arrived in Salento in January and used sparingly by Alberto Cavasin, gave Lecce permanence, starting the game and scoring a brace in the decisive match played against Lazio, at the «Via del Mare», in the last round.

Karlsson has made 12 appearances for the Giallorossi. He was part of the starting eleven against Parma, Fiorentina, Roma, Atalanta and Napoli, while he came on as a substitute in the 1st minute of the second half against Udinese and Genoa. Overall, he played 436 minutes, remaining on the bench in 7 matches. He only brought joy to Bergamo, in the match following the death of physiotherapist Graziano Fiorita, converting the penalty that allowed Lecce to take the lead momentarily, before being caught up at 1-1. For the rest, he conceded a few plays that gave a glimpse of his qualities, but too intermittently and with little competitive determination. Against Lazio, he seems to be the most likely candidate to take Morente's place. Will he be able to find the energy to experience a Sunday to pass down to posterity?

N'Dri has 8 appearances. Giampaolo trusted him from the first minute only against Verona and Turin, calling him into action immediately after the break against Genoa. He had 30 to 36 minutes at his disposal against Roma, Venezia, Juventus and Como, in addition to a snippet of matches against Bologna, Monza, Udinese and Napoli. A total of 299'. He hit the inside of the post that still cries out for vengeance in the home clash with the Lagunari led by Eusebio Di Francesco. He made it clear that he knows how to get away from the opponent in one-on-one situations, but then he lost his way when it came to making the final choice. It is to be assumed that at the Olimpico he will have a chance at least in the second half and it will be up to him to channel his qualities in the right direction.

Banda started the season after recovering from the surgery that made him miss the final phase of the 2023/2024 tournament. Luca Gotti used him in 10 out of 12 matches, but the Zambian was never at his best. Lecce lost him from the thirteenth to the twenty-sixth round because he was forced to rely on a surgeon again. From the twenty-seventh matchday he was available again. He played 8' against Milan and Genoa, 32' against Roma and Como, 35' against Verona. But he was never at acceptable standards. Yet the player in great form admired in the first part of last season would be able to guarantee a valuable contribution to the cause of the Salento team. Tomorrow night (kick-off at 20:45) he could be a card to play in the final part of the match in case there was a need and who knows, maybe he will find the right inspiration to make the dream of an entire people come true.