Pisa face relegation as Lecce visit with survival at stake

Key facts

• Pisa have 18 points and sit 20th in Serie A.
• Lecce have 29 points and are 17th, one place above the relegation zone.
• Pisa have lost their last five matches, scoring only one goal.
• Lecce have one win in their last nine matches and six consecutive without a win.
• Lecce have scored just 10 goals from open play all season.
• Pisa have won only two of 17 home games this campaign.
• The last meeting between the teams ended in a 1-0 Lecce win.

Lecce victory would seal Pisa's fate

Pisa face a must-win encounter against Lecce at the Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani on Friday, knowing that defeat would confirm their relegation to Serie B. The Nerazzurri currently sit rock bottom of the table with 18 points, six adrift of safety with four matches remaining. Even a victory would not guarantee survival: if Cremonese beat Lazio on Monday, Pisa would still be relegated regardless of their own result. The Tuscan club returned to Italy's top flight this season after a three-decade absence, but now face a sixth demotion in eight top-flight campaigns, including both of the last two in 1988–89 and 1990–91.

Hiljemark's side in desperate form

Oscar Hiljemark's team have lost their last five matches while scoring only one goal, and no team across Europe's top five leagues has won fewer times this season. Since Hiljemark took over in February, Pisa have managed just two wins from 17 home games, making little impact on a struggling squad. The Nerazzurri's last outing ended in a 1-0 defeat to Parma, a result that left them needing a minor miracle to avoid the drop. With four fixtures left, they require maximum points – and even that unlikely run might not be enough to survive.

Lecce's survival hopes in their own hands

Lecce, by contrast, control their own destiny. The Salentini sit 17th with 29 points, one place above the relegation zone, after a goalless draw with Hellas Verona last week. That point kept them ahead of 18th-placed Cremonese, and they now need only to match Cremo's results over the final four matchdays to secure a fifth straight season in Serie A. However, Eusebio Di Francesco's side have taken just two points from their last six fixtures, scoring a meagre two goals. Remarkably, they have found the net only 10 times from open play all season, and their last eight Serie A strikes have been registered by different players, highlighting a lack of a regular marksman.

Key injuries and team news

Pisa will be without Medon Berisha (torn thigh muscle) and Sadik Fofana (cruciate ligament tear). The probable lineup includes Adrian Semper in goal, with Simone Canestrelli, Antonio Caracciolo, and Rosen Bozhinov in defence. Mehdi Léris, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Michel Aebischer, Isak Vural, and Samuele Angori are expected in midfield, with Stefano Moreo and Filip Stojilkovic leading the attack. Lecce are likely to field Wladimiro Falcone in goal, protected by Danilo Veiga, Gaby Jean, Jamil Siebert, and Antonino Gallo. Ylber Ramadani, Lassana Coulibaly, Santiago Pierotti, Omri Gandelman, and Lameck Banda are set to start in midfield and attack, with Nikola Stulic as the lone striker.

Head-to-head and historical context

Di Francesco has faced Pisa on two previous occasions and recorded wins in both. Lecce also won the last meeting between the sides 1-0. However, Lecce's away form is poor: they have only one win in their last 12 matches on the road and are on a run of five consecutive away games without a victory. For Pisa, a loss would end their brief return to Serie A after three decades away. The club's history in the top flight has been marked by frequent relegations, and this season's struggles continue that pattern.

What comes next

Friday's result will have immediate consequences. If Pisa lose, they are relegated. If they win, they must hope Cremonese fail to beat Lazio on Monday to keep their faint survival hopes alive. Lecce, meanwhile, will aim to end their six-match winless run and take a decisive step toward safety. With both teams desperate for points, the match at the Cetilar Arena promises high stakes and tension. For Pisa, it is a last stand; for Lecce, an opportunity to secure their Serie A status.

The bottom line

• Pisa are bottom with 18 points and face relegation if they lose to Lecce.
• Lecce are 17th with 29 points and control their own survival fate.
• Pisa have lost five straight matches, scoring just one goal.
• Lecce have one win in nine games and have scored only 10 open-play goals all season.
• Pisa have won only two of 17 home games under Hiljemark.
• Even a Pisa win may not save them if Cremonese beat Lazio on Monday.