Milan respond to Inter and Napoli by winning with the same scoreline as yesterday’s victories for Chivu’s and Conte’s teams: a 1–0 win over Lecce, sealed by Niclas Füllkrug's first goal in a Rossoneri shirt.
Milan-Lecce, first half
Massimiliano Allegri makes four changes from the eleven that won in Como. Ricci, Jashari, Estupiñán, and Pulisic replace Fofana, Modrić, Bartesaghi, and Nkunku. In his 4-3-3, Di Francesco selects Gandelman in midfield, with Pierotti and former Milan player Sottil flanking Stulic. Unlike in other matches, Milan try to start strongly. In the fifth minute, Ricci switches play to the right for Saelemaekers, who cuts onto his left foot and shoots, narrowly missing the far post.
Four minutes later, Leão is played through in the box by Saelemaekers and beats Falcone coming off his line with a delightful chip, but the goal is disallowed for offside against the Portuguese winger. Milan control possession, but Lecce close every passing lane, dropping Pierotti into the defensive line and setting up in a sort of 5-4-1 when out of possession.
The Rossoneri struggle to create clear chances, while around the half-hour mark Lecce threaten with a cross from Sottil that Stulic attacks, getting in front of Gabbia but heading over the bar. Five minutes later, Milan have a good opportunity. Saelemaekers slips a pass into the area for Pulisic, who shoots from a tight angle and forces a save from Falcone. After one minute of added time, the first half ends goalless, with Milan clearly needing to do more after the break.
Milan-Lecce, second half
No changes from either coach at halftime, and Milan again start the second half with intent. Rabiot sends a long diagonal from the right. Estupiñán arrives at the far post with perfect timing and slides the ball across the face of goal, but Pierotti is well positioned and clears the danger. Shortly after, the Ecuadorian full-back breaks through again on the left from a Jashari through ball and picks out Saelemaekers at the far post, but the Belgian’s poor control allows the shot to be blocked.
From the resulting corner, another cross from the right finds Gabbia, who rises above everyone but fails to hit the target. A couple of minutes later, again from a corner, the ball falls to Estupiñán, who strikes it on the volley. The effort is central and just too high. In the tenth minute, Pulisic wins a loose ball and lays it off to Ricci, whose low left-footed drive is brilliantly saved by Falcone at his near post. From the following corner, the Lecce goalkeeper comes out poorly and is fortunate that Gabbia’s header goes over.
Falcone produces a miracle save in the 62nd minute. Leão plays a brilliant first-time through ball for Pulisic, who finds himself one-on-one and aims for the far post, only to be denied by an outstanding save from the Lecce keeper. It is all Milan. Estupiñán delivers a precise low cross for Rabiot, who strikes first time with his left foot but sends the ball over.
Allegri turns to the bench only in the 73rd minute, without making the team more attacking. The changes are like-for-like: Loftus-Cheek for Ricci and Füllkrug for Pulisic. Immediately, though, the German striker causes problems in the Lecce box, with Falcone just beating him to the ball after a scramble involving De Winter and Gabbia. A minute later, the other substitute wastes a big chance, as Loftus-Cheek fails to turn Rabiot’s layoff into the net.
The Lecce wall finally falls in the 76th minute. Gabbia launches a long ball to Saelemaekers, who gets away from Gallo, controls it on his chest, and floats a perfect cross into the box, where Niclas Füllkrug heads home from close range, leaving Falcone with no chance. Four minutes later, the exhausted Belgian leaves the pitch, replaced by Athekame. With three minutes to go, Jashari also suffers a physical problem. Modrić comes on, along with Nkunku for Leão.
One minute from full time, Modrić plays a superb pass to Nkunku, who breaks toward goal but is caught by Siebert. In the third of four minutes of stoppage time, Milan go close to doubling their lead. Estupiñán fires in a low cross, and Nkunku shoots from close range, but Falcone produces another excellent save. A wide effort from Maleh brings the match to an end, a game Milan only decide in the final quarter of an hour, staying three points behind Inter and three points ahead of Napoli, writes MilanPress.it.
