Bologna were stopped from moving level on points with champions Napoli on Sunday after Roberto Piccoli's penalty in the 10th minute of added time snatched a 1-1 draw for Lecce.
Charalampos Lykogiannis looked to have given fifth-placed Bologna another win from a remarkable season so far when he curled home a pearler of a free-kick in the 68th minute.
But as Lecce pushed for a late leveller Riccardo Calafiori fouled the hosts' goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, who had come up to contest a corner, and allowed Piccoli to level from the penalty spot.
Thiago Motta's team are temporarily in fifth spot, two points behind Napoli ahead of their big clash with league title favourites Inter Milan later Sunday.
Roma can move above Bologna and level on 24 points with Napoli if they win at Sassuolo just before the weekend's headline clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Inter will reclaim top spot from Juventus as long as they do not lose in Naples.