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Serie A | Lecce 2-1 Udinese: Gandelman and Banda end desperate drought
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- Serie A | Lecce 2-1 Udinese: Gandelman and Banda end desperate drought
Serie A | Lecce 2-1 Udinese: Gandelman and Banda end desperate drought
Lecce ended their goal drought in style with Omri Gandelman and a late Lameck Banda free kick to defeat Udinese and break clear of the relegation zone.
The Salentini were sliding perilously after a run of just two points in eight rounds, though oddly those were against Juventus and Lazio . It was no secret where the problems lay, scoring only two goals in the last nine matches. Francesco Camarda and Medon Berisha were injured. The Friulani were fresh off back-to-back wins over Verona and Roma, so while Keinan Davis , Hassane Kamara , Adam Buksa , Jabuk Piotrowski and Alessandro Zanoli missed out, Nicolò Zaniolo was only fit for the bench after knee surgery.
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See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Head coach of US Lecce Eusebio Di Francesco (R) and head coach of Udinese Calcio Kosta Runjaic prior the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
January signing Walid Cheddira got his first start for Lecce and should've done better when nodding a Riccardo Sottil cross off target from six yards.
Lecce finally broke their goal drought after more than 430 minutes of football, with a gift from Udinese. They gave it away twice during that move, as Jesper Karlstrom slipped when trying to control the Cheddira roll across and allowed Omri Gandelman to sweep in undisturbed from 12 yards for his debut Serie A goal.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Omri Gandelman (#16) of US Lecce scores his team's opening goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
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Sottil's free kick skimmed the top of the crossbar, but Jordan Zemura ran onto the inspired Arthur Atta disguised pass off the outside of the boot, brought down by Kialonda Gaspar for a penalty. Unusually, defender Oumar Solet stepped up to take it and converted with a stuttering run-up to draw Udinese level.
Tiago Gabriel nodded a Sottil corner over, then Danilo Veiga 's scorcher was fingertipped over the bar by Maduka Okoye .
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Oumar Solet of Udinese Calcio scores his team's equalizing goal with penalty during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
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With very little in the way of threat and this being a must-win game, the crowd turned angrily on coach Eusebio Di Francesco for his substitutions, as they wanted more forwards to be playing together rather than simply refreshing the existing roles.
Ylber Ramadani tested Okoye from distance, while Zaniolo and Konan N'Dri drilled wide from promising positions.
Lecce were unlucky not to restore their advantage at the 87thminute when Gandelman's effort inside the area took a deflection and looped up, bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Santiago Pierotti (L) and Ylber Ramadani of US Lecce competes for the ball with Arthur Atta of Udinese Calcio during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare on February 08, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
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Moments later, Banda was brought down just outside the area and converted the sensational free kick himself, bending it into the near top corner to send the crowd wild at the Stadio Via del Mare. It sealed their first victory of 2026.
Lecce 2-1 Udinese
Gandelman 5 (L), Solet pen 26 (U), Banda 90 (L)
