Following their derby delight last week, AC Milan seek a third straight Serie A win on Friday evening, when they welcome Lecce to San Siro.
The Rossoneri’s victory over old foes Inter Milan eased the pressure on Paulo Fonseca, and now his team meet opponents without a win since August.
After six derby defeats in a row, Milan finally toppled Inter last Sunday at San Siro, with boyhood fan Matteo Gabbia proving the hero by heading home a late goal that secured a long-awaited 2-1 success.
The season’s first Derby della Madonnina had arrived amid talk of a coaching change for the Rossoneri, who lost their Champions League opener at home to Liverpool in addition to making their worst Serie A start since 2018.
However, under-fire boss Paulo Fonseca made the bold decision to change formation for the derby, and it ultimately paid off, with Christian Pulisic quickly putting Milan in front and Gabbia later netting the 89th-minute match-winner.
As a result of back-to-back league wins, Fonseca’s side now occupy sixth place in the standings, with eight points from five games so far.
Ahead of a tough Champions League assignment in Leverkusen next week, Milan will aim to make it three from three in Serie A, as they meet one of their favourite opponents.
Pulisic struck first for the Rossoneri in a 3-0 win the last time they met Lecce, against whom they are unbeaten in 12 league matches, winning seven times in the process.
Indeed, Lecce are looking for their first win in top-flight meetings between the teams since April 2006, having been outscored 29-12 by their second-city counterparts since that last victory.
Current form does not suggest that might change on Friday, as Luca Gotti’s side are searching for their first win anywhere since August, having crashed out of the Coppa Italia at home to second-tier opposition in midweek.
While Sassuolo can claim to be one of the strongest sides in Serie B this season, tamely losing 2-0 at Stadio Via del Mare further dented the confidence of a Lecce team that had just thrown two points away against Parma.
Goals from Patrick Dorgu and Nikola Krstovic had put the Salentini on course for victory last week, but conceding two stoppage-time strikes turned the game on its head, as their visitors somehow salvaged a draw.
It was a bitter blow for Gotti and co to absorb – as was going out of the cup – but they are at least unbeaten in three Serie A matches ahead of their daunting trip to San Siro.
AC Milan Serie A form:
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AC Milan form (all competitions):
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Lecce Serie A form:
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Lecce form (all competitions):
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Team News
After Milan’s attack was led by Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham in the derby, it remains to be seen whether Paulo Fonseca will persist with the two strikers paired up top or revert to a more familiar formation.
Either way, Rafael Leao and top scorer Christian Pulisic should provide support from behind, unless Fonseca decides to rotate his resources ahead of a difficult Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen. Noah Okafor and Samu Chukwueze are on standby.
Marco Sportiello (hand), Ismael Bennacer (ankle) and Alessandro Florenzi (ACL) are all ruled out by injury, in addition to captain Davide Calabria (muscular).
Lecce made a number of changes for Tuesday’s cup tie, most notably resting key defender Federico Baschirotto and star striker Nikola Krstovic, the latter of whom is the only Giallorossi player to score more than once this season.
Luca Gotti will bring both men back into the visitors’ starting XI, alongside first-choice goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone – and possibly ex-Milan forward Ante Rebic.
French full-back Frederic Guilbert was sent off in the second half of last week’s draw with Parma, so the versatile Patrick Dorgu could drop back into defence; meanwhile, Mohamed Kaba (ACL) and Medon Berisha (thigh) are injured.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Dorgu, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly; Morente, Rebic, Banda; KrstovicWe say: AC Milan 2-0 Lecce
As Milan are in good spirits following the derby – and Lecce do not tend to travel well – the hosts should stride to a regulation win at San Siro
While defensive questions remain, the Rossoneri have an abundance of talent in attack, and Paulo Fonseca is now starting to harness i
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