Lecce's wide deliveries face Genoa's quick vertical play after a recovery. Their contest should turn on which side wins the ball after the first clearance. Athletic can create through Berenguer's dead balls and Williams's runs, but Sociedad's pressure can disrupt the home side's first central pass. Sociedad's second route into the box gives this derby a way to stay close.
Lecce can use Gallo and N'Dri or Fatah to send a first cross and recover a second delivery toward Gandelman and a central striker. Genoa's Baldanzi and Osmajic are dangerous when the first vertical pass follows a midfield recovery, but the visitors' recent wins relied on a small number of such moments and Bijlow's saves. Most of Lecce's listed absences were already present when the remaining side still found box shots at Frosinone; Gaspar's suspension does remove a set-piece finisher. Genoa have not repeated strong away creation, while Lecce still have real wide and second-ball supply. That's why I'm siding with Lecce.
Athletic's Berenguer delivery and Williams runs can hurt Sociedad, while Sučić, Guedes and Óskarsson have shown how Sociedad can break a press and find the box twice in a move. Guruzeta and Ruiz de Galarreta are out; Sancet is available but has missed four matches. Sociedad's Zakharyan is absent, though its Levante goal routes came through the other receivers. Athletic's four goals from four shots on target against Getafe came from limited overall chance quality. I expect the derby to remain competitive, so I'm siding with Real Sociedad.
