Prediction: AC Milan vs Lecce

AC Milan will look to put their midweek European disappointment behind them when they welcome Lecce to San Siro for Sunday’s final Serie A fixture before the international break.

While Ruben Amorim suffered his first competitive defeat as Milan head coach against former club Benfica, Lecce arrive in Lombardy in good spirits after building on last season’s survival success with an encouraging start to the new campaign.

AC Milan

For the first time under Ruben Amorim, AC Milan head into a match looking to bounce back from defeat.

The Rossoneri fell 2-0 behind against Benfica in their Europa League opener and, unlike in last weekend’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Lazio, were unable to complete another comeback. As a result, Milan suffered their first loss of the season after previously picking up back-to-back league victories and a creditable draw in Rome.

Despite that setback, the broader picture remains positive. Milan were unfortunate not to beat Juventus earlier in the campaign and showed impressive character to rescue a point against Lazio. Their defeat to a strong Benfica side is unlikely to cause significant alarm among supporters.

History also suggests Sunday’s fixture arrives at the ideal time. Milan have not lost a home league match against Lecce since the beginning of the century and have won each of the last four meetings between the clubs at San Siro by a combined score of 9-0.

Team News

Amorim rotated parts of his squad in midweek, meaning several key players should return fresh. Luka Modric is expected to come back into midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot, while Mario Gila could also be restored to the starting XI.

The hosts appear to have a clean bill of health, giving Amorim the luxury of selecting from a near fully-fit squad.

One of the main selection debates concerns the attacking positions behind Goncalo Ramos. Christian Pulisic is firmly back in contention after his substitute appearance against Benfica and boasts an outstanding record against Lecce, scoring five goals in five Serie A appearances against the Salentini.

Lecce’s recent history against Milan offers little encouragement, but Eusebio Di Francesco’s side have shown enough during the opening weeks of the season to travel north with optimism.

The visitors have won four of their last six Serie A matches stretching back to last season, building on the momentum generated during their successful fight against relegation.

Although their Coppa Italia campaign ended prematurely against Palermo, Lecce have collected six points from their opening league fixtures, matching the early returns of several clubs expected to challenge for European places.

Last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Monza showcased the attacking qualities that have helped fuel their encouraging start. Goals from Lassana Coulibaly and Tiago Gabriel helped Lecce establish a commanding early advantage before eventually securing all three points.

The challenge for the Salentini is producing the same level of performance away from home, where they have traditionally found life significantly more difficult.

Team News

Di Francesco must also contend with several fitness concerns. Willem Geubbels remains unavailable in attack, while midfielders Medon Berisha and Omri Gandelman are both doubts.

If those two miss out, much responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Coulibaly and Ivan Ilic, who have been two of Lecce’s standout performers so far this season. Coulibaly has already contributed two goals and an assist, while Ilic has supplied two assists.

Key Factors to Consider

• Milan suffered their first defeat under Ruben Amorim in midweek against Benfica.
• The Rossoneri have won their last four home matches against Lecce by an aggregate score of 9-0.
• Lecce have taken six points from their opening Serie A fixtures.
• Christian Pulisic has scored five goals in five Serie A appearances against Lecce.
• Lassana Coulibaly has already registered two goals and one assist this season.
• Milan have shown strong character in several difficult fixtures despite recent European disappointment.

Conclusion

Lecce have started the campaign well and possess enough attacking quality to trouble Milan if given opportunities, particularly through the form of Coulibaly and Ilic.

However, the hosts appear significantly stronger across the pitch and boast an outstanding recent record in this fixture. Combined with the desire to respond positively after their defeat to Benfica, the conditions appear ideal for a Milan reaction.

The visitors should remain competitive, but AC Milan are expected to continue their dominance of this fixture and head into the international break with a comfortable home victory.

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