Soccer Football - Serie A - Lecce v AS Roma - Stadio Via del mare, Lecce, Italy - April 1, 2024 AS Roma's Houssem Aouar reacts REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
LECCE, Italy (Reuters) -AS Roma's bid for a top-four finish suffered a blow as they were unable to break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw at Lecce in Serie A on Monday.
Roma are fifth in the standings with 52 points, five points behind Bologna in fourth place, the final guaranteed Champions League qualifying spot. Atalanta, who have played one match fewer, are in sixth place with 50 points. Lecce are 13th with 29.
Bologna had little trouble securing a 3-0 victory at home against bottom-of-the-league Salernitana earlier on Monday, bringing them within two points of third-placed Juventus.
Lecce had chances in the first half but they were frustrated by a solid performance from Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
"We suffered a lot in the first half... We have to improve on this, we have to be tougher when we’re playing direct. If the team isn’t capable of switching it up, you struggle," Roma coach Daniele De Rossi told DAZN.
"It's a point gained, I find it tough to say, but it is a tough situation. It could have been worse. Today, we were missing everything, we also had a bit of a shortage during the build-up."
Both teams continued to create opportunities after halftime, with Lecce's Patrick Dorgu firing wide from close range shortly after the hour mark, while Roma's Houssem Aouar had a shot kept out by an incredible reaction save from Lecce keeper Wladimiro Falcone.
Remi Oudin had the chance to be the home side's hero in stoppage time, but his long-range shot was narrowly off target.
Roma will next face city rivals Lazio in the 'Derby della Capitale' on Saturday.
"(Lazio coach Igor) Tudor is very good, he has already managed some important results. It will be very difficult," De Rossi said.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in GdanskEditing by Toby Davis)
