Serie A preview: AC Milan vs. Lecce

The twenty first matchday of Serie A is on the playing cards for AC Milan, taking over Lecce at residence after two consecutive away video games. As Massimiliano Allegri has made clear, it’s a sport the Rossoneri completely should win.

It’s been a superb few days for the Milan faithfuls, following the comeback win in opposition to Como, and will probably be essential for the staff to construct on the boldness increase. Not simply to stay within the Scudetto race, but in addition to show themselves to others.

In his pre-match press convention, Allegri was very clear about the truth that Milan must win a sport at residence, for as soon as. Particularly since numerous away video games are developing after this one; some troublesome ones too it needs to be added.

Sport date: Sunday, January 18Kick-off time: 8.45pm (CET)Venue: San SiroReferee: Luca Zufferli (VAR: Luigi Nasca)

Workforce information

The harm scenario has seen a slight improvement for the reason that sport in opposition to Como on Thursday. Santiago Gimenez remains to be recovering from his ankle harm and can stay out for a while, however Strahinja Pavlovic has been known as up.

Allegri stated through the presser that the Serbian couldn’t even head the ball on Thursday, because of the threat of the stitches opening up, however he has been included on the bench. Anyway, Milan can’t precisely complain in regards to the harm scenario.

However, it’s clear that the tight schedule has drained the gamers rather a lot. Rafael Leao nonetheless hasn’t recovered 100% match health, whereas Luka Modric may want some relaxation once more after a demanding efficiency in opposition to Como.

There are extra gamers that can have to be assessed, as Allegri confirmed, and the bodily situation will largely dictate the beginning eleven picks. That stated, the gaffer already appears to have a fairly good concept of which gamers will get the possibility.

The backline needs to be made up of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Koni De Winter, which doesn’t precisely come as a shock given Pavlovic’s absence. De Winter has additionally achieved fairly effectively in latest video games, so there isn’t the identical urgency to get the Serbian again.

In midfield, the one modifications needs to be Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Youssouf Fofana and Samuele Ricci for Luka Modric. It appears a remaining choice hasn’t been made on the Croatian veteran, however Ricci is the favorite to exchange him if he does want some relaxation.

Lastly, Christian Pulisic remained on the bench for your complete Como sport and can thus be again from begin tomorrow. It appears his associate might be Leao regardless of not being in nice form, however each Christopher Nkunku and Niclas Füllkrug might be knocking on the door for a cameo.

All issues thought-about, additionally wanting on the bench, Allegri is heading into the sport with a robust squad that undoubtedly ought to have the ability to beat Lecce. The Rossoneri haven’t precisely been nice at San Siro currently, although, so let’s wait and see what occurs.

Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leao.

Predicted Milan Bench: Teracciano, Pittarella, Athekame, Odogu, Pavlovic, Estupinan, Fashar, Jashar, Modric, nkunku, füllkrug.

Accidents & suspensions: Gimenez.

The opponents

Due to the above, most Milan followers could have a fairly good base information of the By way of del Mare aspect by now. Simply to refresh our recollections, nonetheless, Eusebio Di Francesco remains to be the coach of the staff and the outcomes up till this level have been blended.

One of many massive summer time signings, Nikola Stulic, has been unable to fill the boots of his namesake Nikola Krstovic, who left for Atalanta. The Serbian has scored simply twice in 19 appearances and it’s one rationalization as to why Lecce solely have 13 targets thus far (lowest within the league!).

With that objective manufacturing, you’re all the time going to wrestle for factors and that has been the case for Lecce. However, Di Francesco’s males have been capable of win by the odd objective 4 instances, three of which have been 1-0 wins. Essential factors, making up a majority of the 17 claimed thus far.

The latest 1-1 draw in opposition to Juventus was definitely a confidence increase for the staff, and it additionally acts as a warning to groups like Milan. The Bianconeri made one mistake on the sting of the field and Lameck Banda, one of many stars, discovered the again of the online with an excellent strike.

There are some heavy absences to notice, although. Gaspar, who is taken into account their greatest defender by many, was despatched off in opposition to Parma for kicking an opponent who was mendacity down. He was handed a three-game ban for that and the timing couldn’t have been any worse (Inter, Milan and Lazio).

The beginning right-back Danilo Veiga picked up a yellow card in opposition to Inter and can thus serve a one-game suspension on Sunday, that means Matias Perez (who has solely performed 32 minutes) ought to get the possibility in opposition to Milan’s left flank.

Including the harm of Medon Berisha to the equation, issues definitely may have been higher for Di Francesco. The Milan loanee Francesco Camarda additionally seems set to chop his mortgage quick and return to Milanello, per stories.

Predicted Lecce XI (4-2-3-1): Falcone; Perez, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly, Morente, Gandelman, Banda; Stulic.

Predicted Lecce: Fruchtl, Samooja, Koussi, Jean, Ndaba, Fofana, Helgason, Kaba, Ngo, Maleh, Salah, Salah, Marchwinski, Ndri, Pierott.

engineers & suspension: Berisha, Camalarda, Gaspara and Veiga.

Face to face

There have been 47 conferences between these sides, with Milan profitable 30 versus Lecce’s 2 wins. Including the remaining 15 attracts to the combo, it’s clear that the Rossoneri are the favourites on this one, particularly for those who take into account the earlier encounters this season.

Certainly, this may truly be the third version of this fixture, seeing as additionally they confronted one another within the Coppa Italia preliminaries. The league sport was performed earlier than that, although, as Milan travelled to through del Mare on the finish of August.

Objectives from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic secured a 2-0 win for the Rossoneri. This was adopted up by a convincing 3-0 win within the Coppa encounter, with Santiago Gimenez, Christopher Nkunku and Pulisic discovering the again of the online.

Key information and stats

➤ AC Milan have gained their final 4 Serie A matches in opposition to Lecce, after failing to win three of the earlier 5 (D3); the final time the Rossoneri recorded 5 consecutive victories in opposition to them within the competitors was between 1989 and 1993.

➤ US Lecce have gained simply certainly one of their final 28 Serie A matches in opposition to AC Milan (D11 L16), a 1-0 victory on 1st April 2006, with Axel Konan scoring the profitable objective.

➤ AC Milan have gained 15 of their 19 residence Serie A matches in opposition to Lecce (79% – D3 L1); amongst groups confronted at residence no less than that many instances within the competitors, solely in opposition to Palermo have the Rossoneri recorded the next win proportion (83%).

➤ AC Milan (W12 D7) are unbeaten in 19 consecutive Serie A matches inside the similar league season for the primary time since January-Could 2004, underneath Carlo Ancelotti (19-W15 D4). The Rossoneri haven’t reached 20 consecutive unbeaten matches in the identical competitors for the reason that first seven months of the 1992-93 season (the primary 23 matches with out defeat underneath Fabio Capello).

➤ AC Milan have drawn 4 of their final 5 Serie A matches (W1) in opposition to groups beginning the day within the backside 5 of the league desk, having gained their earlier six video games in opposition to such opponents.

➤ US Lecce have misplaced their final three Serie A matches in opposition to Roma, Parma and Inter. The Salentini final recorded an extended shedding run within the league (5 matches) in February-March 2025 throughout Marco Giampaolo’s tenure.

➤ Earlier than Lecce, the final staff to play two consecutive away matches in opposition to Inter and Milan inside a most of 4 days in Serie A was Atalanta between twenty fifth and twenty eighth February 2024 (a 1-1 draw in opposition to AC Milan and a 4-0 loss in opposition to Inter).

➤ AC Milan accomplished one other comeback in opposition to Como final day out, recovering to win after falling behind which signifies that they’ve now gained 13 factors from shedding positions in Serie A this season, a league-high. In the meantime, Lecce have dropped 10 factors from profitable positions, the identical as Hellas Verona, and fewer solely than Fiorentina, Genoa, and Pisa.

➤ Adrien Rabiot, who scored a decisive brace in opposition to Como, has by no means managed to attain in two consecutive Serie A matches in his profession. His longest scoring streak in Europe’s prime 5 leagues was three matches in February 2025 with Marseille. The Frenchman is certainly one of solely three midfielders within the present Serie A season with no less than three targets and three assists (alongside Nico Paz and Scott McTominay).

➤ Wladimiro Falcone is the one participant to not have missed a single minute in Serie A for the reason that 2022-23 season (since becoming a member of Lecce); the Lecce goalkeeper has performed 134 matches out of a attainable 134 league matchdays in that interval.

Ones to look at

With Pulisic again within the eleven, he will certainly be wanting to redeem himself after the misses in opposition to Fiorentina. Everyone knows simply how good he may be, and he has already scored two targets in opposition to Lecce this season. One other could be good to spice up his confidence.

De Winter is one other one who may use a superb efficiency, merely to substantiate the optimistic development we have now seen in the previous few video games. Maybe all he wanted was consistency, however tomorrow’s sport might be an essential litmus check in that sense.

Di Francesco hinted in his pre-match interview that nothing has been determined but, nevertheless it seems just like the 20-year-old Perez will change their common right-back Veiga. He has solely performed 32 minutes, as talked about earlier, so will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he’ll deal with Leao and Pulisic.

It’s a straightforward decide, however one participant who has supplied the x-factor for Lecce this season is Banda. The objective in opposition to Juventus was good and he has additionally had some good performances in opposition to Milan up to now. The defenders simply must preserve a detailed eye on him, that’s all.

Prediction

After profitable each of the earlier video games in opposition to Lecce this season, and now with a kind of full squad, I can’t see another final result than a win. Di Francesco’s males have struggled currently, regardless of the okay efficiency in opposition to Inter, and Allegri ought to have the ability to benefit from that.

That stated, it may not be the best of video games, particularly since Milan have had some points themselves with enjoying at San Siro currently.

Milan 2-0 Lecce