Paulo Dybala made his comeback in the most dramatic Roma victory, as Romelu Lukaku saw a penalty saved, then Sardar Azmoun and the Belgian turned Lecce around with two stoppage-time goals.
Dybala returned after a month out, while Renato Sanches was back on the bench, but Leonardo Spinazzola, Chris Smalling, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla were still out of action, plus Leandro Paredes suspended. The Salentini had stuttered recently with two points from five rounds and a midweek Coppa Italia exit to Parma.
It was a dramatic start to the match, as within the opening minute Dybala’s shot was deflected off Federico Baschirotto’s fingertips and a penalty was awarded following the VAR on-field review. Lukaku stepped up, but for the first time in Italy after 14 consecutive spot-kicks, he failed to convert, seeing the central effort parried by Wladimiro Falcone’s legs.
Falcone was also at full stretch for a one-handed save on the Houssem Aouar right-foot curler that was going into the far bottom corner.
Dybala had two dangerous volleys in the same move, the first charged down, the second flashing inches wide of the near post.
Nikola Krstovic saw a Diego Llorente deflection take the sting out of his effort from 12 yards, into the arms of Rui Patricio, then Lameck Banda had penalty appeals rejected as Llorente got the slightest touch to the ball.
It was end-to-end after the restart, as Marin Pongracic robbed Aouar and shrugged off three to test Rui Patricio at the near post, then Stephan El Shaarawy laid it off for Lukaku, forcing Falcone to save with his foot.
Krstovic broke away through three defenders only for Evan Ndicka to make the decisive block, while Aouar’s cross-shot only skimmed Lukaku’s head and Gianluca Mancini nodded a Dybala corner wide.
It was Lecce who finally broke the deadlock on the counter-attack, as Banda surged down the left, cut back inside Mancini and Llorente, squirming the ball across for Pontus Almqvist to sweep in from 12 yards.
Dybala came close with a finish that was just off target after combining with Lukaku, while Gabriel Strefezza robbed Renato Sanches for an angled drive that scraped a coat of paint off the far post.
Roma kept pushing and in stoppages got their equaliser, as Nicola Zalewski flew down the left and his cross went over Andrea Belotti, but found the head of Sardar Azmoun for his first goal in the Giallorossi jersey.
It still wasn’t over, as moments later Dybala surged through the centre and threaded through, Lukaku used his strength to turn one defender, send another to ground and fire in the winner from eight yards.
Roma 2-1 Lecce
Almqvist 72 (L), Azmoun 91 (R), Lukaku 94 (R)
Saved penalty: Lukaku 5 (R)
Player statistic
| Romelu Lukaku |  |
5' | ||
| 17' |  |
Lameck Banda | ||
| 27' | |
Patrick Dorgu |
| 71' |  |
Pontus Almqvist (Assist: Lameck Banda) | ||
| Renato Sanches | |
76' | ||
| 77' | |
Ylber Ramadani | ||
| 81' | |
Ahmed Touba | ||
| 87' | |
Gabriel Strefezza | ||
| Diego Llorente | |
89' | ||
| Sardar Azmoun (Assist: Nicola Zalewski) |
|
90+1' | ||
| Romelu Lukaku (Assist: Paulo Dybala) |
|
90+4' | ||
| Romelu Lukaku | |
90+6' |
Match statistic
