The Partenopei needed a win at the Stadio Maradona, and hope for Torino to slip up for a chance at ninth place, which might have secured Conference League qualification if Fiorentina defeat Olympiacos.
However, key players Mario Rui, Piotr Zielinski, and Leander Dendoncker were unavailable, with star striker Victor Osimhen only fit for the bench.
Lecce, already safe from relegation, had the first real chance of the match on nine minutes when Patrick Dorgu’s angled drive clipped the base of the far post, leaving Alex Meret helpless.