Lecce appear to have hit some form in the new year and despite still being very much in contention for a place in the bottom three, the Giallorossi will be encouraged and buoyed to go for an attempt for survival in the Italian top flight in the second half of the season.
Placed just a place and point above the dropzone, Lecce are undefeated in their last three league fixtures - they won 2-1 against Lazio in Rome, held Milan to a 1-1 draw at home and gained a valuable point in Florence last weekend as they drew 1-1 with Fiorentina.
However, Lecce are defensively the worst side in the division so far in 2010-11, having conceded a whooping 38 goals in 21 league fixtures. But the Salentini will be fired up for revenge against Cesena as in the reverse fixture in September they suffered a 1-0 away loss.
Returning To Winning Ways
Cesena have lost their last three Serie A matches and are looking real contenders for a bottom-three place in the table. With just 19 points from 21 matches, the Seahorses are third from bottom and are fast sinking deeper into the water.
However, one cannot but help feel considerate towards Cesena as the three games they have gone down in this year were against Roma, Inter and Milan - three of their biggest clubs in the Italian top flight. Massimo Ficcadenti's side, though, commenced the new year on a positive note as they defeated Brescia 2-1 on the road and then drew a blank with Genoa at home.
Cesena's away form in Serie A, though, is abysmal as in the ten league encounters on the road they have won just once and have lost no fewer than seven times, conceding 16 goals in the process and scoring just seven.
TEAM NEWS
Lecce
Giuliatto, Ofere and Gustavo are out injured for Lecce.
Cesena
Fatic, Piangerelli and Schelotto are out injured and will miss the trip to Lecce.
Prediction
This is a relegation six-pointer that neither side can afford to lose. It is going to be a hard-fought encounter and is not going to be a pretty one. Cesena don't have an encouraging away form and this implies that Lecce will head into this match as favourites.
Lecce 2-1 Cesena 
