Bottom-placed Pisa have been relegated from Serie A following a 2-1 defeat to 17th-placed Lecce, a result that opened up a 14-point gap between the sides with just three games remaining.
The victory also lifted Lecce four points clear of the relegation zone.
Despite arriving as the lowest-scoring side across Europe’s top five leagues, Lecce threatened early on when Lameck Banda produced a brilliant run from the left, only to fire straight at Adrian Semper inside the opening minutes.
Pisa, fighting to preserve their top-flight status, responded with a spell of pressure midway through the first half.
Michel Aebischer tested Wladimiro Falcone with a well-struck free-kick, while Samuele Angori’s incisive pass set up Filip Stojilkovic, who narrowly missed the target. Stojilkovic came close again soon after, but his effort was bravely blocked by Tiago Gabriel.
A moment of panic followed for the hosts when Ebenezer Akinsanmiro’s misplaced backpass nearly resulted in an own goal, forcing Semper into a desperate goal-line clearance.
Pisa regained composure and nearly took the lead through Stefano Moreo’s powerful header, though Lecce ended the first half on the front foot without finding a breakthrough.
The visitors finally made their pressure count early in the second half. Walid Cheddira showed strength to win possession before setting up Banda, who made no mistake with a powerful finish past Semper.
Pisa responded almost immediately, restoring parity just four minutes later. Lecce failed to deal with a long throw, allowing Mehdi Leris to fire home from a tight angle.
However, Lecce regained the advantage with just over 20 minutes remaining. Santiago Pierotti’s dazzling run carved open the defence before he slipped the ball to Cheddira, who finished emphatically to make it 2-1.
Pisa had chances to equalise once more, but neither Idrissa Toure nor Gabriele Piccinini could convert from close range after Leris delivered a dangerous cross.
Their hopes were briefly lifted when Lecce had a third goal ruled out for offside, but it proved only a temporary reprieve.
Falcone’s late save to deny Aebischer in stoppage time sealed Pisa’s fate, condemning them to a sixth consecutive defeat and confirming relegation. Verona also dropped out of the division, sitting 13 points behind Lecce.
Meanwhile, Lecce’s survival hopes were boosted as they extended their unbeaten run to three matches at a decisive point in the campaign.
