Roma’s form in recent weeks has nosedived, with their season in danger of petering out after their UEFA Europa League exit to Bologna in midweek and their struggles to keep the pace in the battle for UEFA Champions League qualification.
The visit of relegation-threatened Lecce gave them a fantastic opportunity to bounce back, yet despite dominating possession in the first half, they were unable to regularly test Wladimiro Falcone.
Donyell Malen was his side’s biggest threat and arguably had Roma’s best chance when he fired over from inside the area, but he was the only player with any real pace in the home line-up and was therefore too predictable a target on occasion.
The Giallorossi did have the ball in the back of the net through Nicolò Pissili midway through the half, although it was ruled out as Lorenzo Pellegrini was offside in the build-up.
Lecce offered next to nothing in the first period, but they did have the first two attempts of the second. Within two minutes of the restart, Oumar Ngom forced Mile Svilar to fumble behind and, from the resulting corner, Tiago Gabriel headed over. In an attempt to subsequently give his side extra impetus, Gian Piero Gasperini introduced Robinho Vaz, and he had a telling impact.
Following some good work from Mario Hermoso down the left, the substitute was on hand to head home the Spaniard’s cross to the back post.
Although they had the lead, Roma still didn’t look confident, and only a terrific Hermoso goal-line clearance from Santiago Pierotti’s bullet header kept them in front.
As the Giallorossi looked to give themselves extra breathing space, Vaz volleyed well over the bar with one of their few genuine chances.
Ultimately, the away team could not exert any sustained pressure, allowing Roma to extend their unbeaten home league run to eight matches as they moved back to within three points of Como. Meanwhile, Lecce drop into the relegation zone on goal difference and are left with eight games to maintain their top-flight status.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mario Hermoso (AS Roma)