AC Milan will probably be seeking to construct on their huge midweek win within the Champions League once they tackle Lecce on the Stadio By way of del Mare on Saturday afternoon.
After 4 video games with out a win, Milan obtained three much-needed factors in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday evening in entrance of a packed San Siro to reignite their hopes in Europe, offering a giant enhance to spirits after a tough interval.
Nonetheless, the problem now’s to switch that optimistic vitality into league type and to try to get the Scudetto problem again on track, particularly given the final Serie A recreation was a 1-0 house loss to Udinese.
Sport date: Saturday, November 11
Kick-off time: 15:00 (CET)
Venue: Stadio By way of del Mare
Referee: Rosario Abisso (VAR: Guida)
Group information
After the massive victory within the Champions League in opposition to PSG, Milan should return to successful within the league and Pioli is anticipated to area close to sufficient the identical line-up that beat the French aspect.
By way of absentees, the Rossoneri coach will be unable to name upon Marco Sportiello, Pierre Kalulu, Marco Pellegrino, Mattia Caldara and Ismael Bennacer, all of whom are recovering from long-term points.
Along with these 5, Simon Kjaer and Christian Pulisic should not anticipated to participate within the recreation in Apulia as a result of they’ve muscle points that imply utilizing them can be a danger. Pulisic was not referred to as up by the USA both.
Relating to the workforce information, Pioli is anticipated to area a 4-2-3-1 system like his did in opposition to PSG, the formation that’s recognized from the Scudetto-winning marketing campaign of 2021-22.
In keeping with the most recent from MilanNews, the again 4 in entrance of Mike Maignan will probably be Davide Calabria, Malick Thiaw, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez, so the identical as midweek.
Rade Krunic and Tijjani Reijnders are down because the double pivot with Ruben Loftus-Cheek taking over a extra superior position as he did so nicely a couple of nights in the past. It’s potential Yunus Musah might maintain his place although, which might put Krunic on the bench.
The one particular change will probably be in assault the place there will probably be no Pulisic, that means Samuel Chukwueze ought to begin in his place from the primary minute. Rafael Leao will probably be on the opposite flank, with Olivier Giroud the centre-forward.
Possible Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo Hernández; Krunić, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Loftus-Cheek, Leão; Giroud.
The opponents
Lecce preserved their prime flight standing after a rollercoaster 2022-23 season, and it was because of Milan-owned striker Lorenzo Colombo that they did as he scored the successful penalty away at Monza to seal their survival.
The Giallorossi completed 5 factors above the dotted line in the long run however it was clear that some reinforcements have been wanted to assist the newly-installed coach Roberto D’Aversa.
Youssef Musah, Wladimiro Falcone, Nikola Krstovic, Mohamed Kaba, Marin Pongracic, Ilber Ramadani, Remi Oudin and Giacomo Faticanti have been among the many gamers that they paid a seven-figure sum for (as per Transfermarkt).
Lecce began the season brilliantly and located themselves third after 5 video games following wins over Lazio, Salernitana and Genoa, however they haven’t gained since.
Defeats in opposition to Juventus, Napoli, Torino and Roma have sparked a slide into the underside half, whereas they have been knocked out of the Coppa Italia after a 4-2 loss to Serie B aspect Parma on November 1.
D’Aversa has two accidents that have an effect on what would in all probability be his first selection beginning line-up, withPontus Almqvist the most recent absentee after he suffered a hamstring harm final weekend in opposition to AS Roma. Jeppe Corfitzen is the opposite who will miss the sport with a shoulder harm.
Lecce are prone to match Milan up by naming a again 4 with three midfielders and three forwards. Wladimiro Falcone will probably be in purpose with Federico Baschirotto, Marin Pongracic, Antonino Gallo and Valentin Gendrey on the again.
Ylber Ramadani ought to sit on the base of the midfield, whereas Mohamed Kaba and Hamza Rafia would be the box-to-box gamers. Nikola Krstovic is the centre-forward, with Lameck Banda and captain Gabriel Strefezza out huge.
Possible Lecce XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Pongracic, Gallo; Kaba, Ramadani, Rafia; Strefezza, Krstovic, Banda.
Face to face
Milan have performed in opposition to Lecce 41 instances of their historical past throughout all competitions, successful 25 of these with 14 attracts and simply two defeats, leading to a 61% win charge.
The primary assembly between the perimeters was again in August 1978 within the Coppa Italia again when there have been group phases. Gianni Rivera and Alberto Bigon (two targets) netted in a 3-2 win for Nils Liedholm’s males.
Final season’s recreation on the By way of del Mare was something however simple although. Pioli’s aspect discovered themselves 2-0 down early on and wanted second half targets from Leao and Calabria to rescue a draw.
The Rossoneri did win the reverse fixture 2-0 with Leao netting a brace, and their final defeat in opposition to Lecce was a 1-0 loss again in April 2006.
Match info…
➤ Lecce have drawn extra Serie A video games in opposition to Milan than in opposition to some other aspect (W2 D12 L20). Milan have prevented defeat in 22 of their final 23 matches in opposition to Lecce in Serie A (W12 D10), with Lecce’s solely win throughout that run coming in April 2006 (1-0 through an Axel Konan purpose).
➤ Lecce are unbeaten in 9 of their final 12 house video games in opposition to Milan in Serie A (W1 D8), scoring in 10 of these matches.
➤ After successful 11 factors from their opening 5 league matches this season (W3 D2), Lecce have picked up simply two factors throughout their final six Serie A video games. Lecce have misplaced every of their final two, and will lose three Serie A matches in a row for the primary time since April (run of six).
➤ Milan have misplaced two of their final three league video games (D1), as many as of their earlier 19 (W13 D4). The Rossoneri might endure back-to-back Serie A defeats for the primary time since February 2023 (run of three, in opposition to Lazio, Sassuolo and Inter).
➤ After their 0-1 defeat in opposition to Udinese final outing, Milan might fail to attain in consecutive league matches for the primary time since April 2022 (two video games drawn nil-nil in that case, in opposition to Bologna and Torino).
➤ Milan have prevented defeat in 9 of their final 10 league matches performed instantly after a Champions League match (W6 D3), with their solely defeat in that interval coming in opposition to Spezia in Might.
➤ Milan have obtained 29 playing cards in Serie A this season (27 yellow playing cards, two purple playing cards) – solely
Lecce (34) and Juventus (30) have obtained extra.
➤ Nicola Sansone has scored 5 league targets in opposition to Milan, a joint-record for him in opposition to an opponent in Serie A (5 targets additionally in opposition to Inter). Lecce might turn into the fourth totally different workforce with which he scores in opposition to Milan within the top-flight, whereas just one participant has netted in opposition to the Rossoneri with extra totally different golf equipment in Serie A (Enrico Chiesa, 5).
➤ Rafael Leão has scored extra Serie A targets in opposition to Lecce than some other aspect: 4 targets in 4
matches, together with a brace in April. In 2023, he has been concerned within the joint-most Serie A targets
for Milan (19 – 12 targets, seven assists), degree with Olivier Giroud (14 targets, 5 assists).
➤ Leão might turn into the second Milan participant to be concerned in 20 targets in consecutive calendar years in Serie A throughout the final 20 seasons, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic (in 2011 and 2012).
Ones to look at
Leao proved in opposition to PSG that he stays the person for the massive events, however now the problem for him is to not start one other purpose drought and to steer the workforce even throughout the much less stimulating challenges (on paper at the least).
Chukwueze was the most costly signing of the summer season and is but to contribute to a purpose, although he had an harm lay-off and is now again, so the mission to justify his price ticket begins. Krunic in midfield wants to point out why the RLC-Musah-Reijnders trio from midweek shouldn’t turn into Pioli’s first selection.
Krstovic has been Lecce’s most spectacular performers thus far this season with 4 league targets to his identify, making him their prime scorer, and there have been even studies that he’s attracting the curiosity of Milan. Almqvist is the one different participant to attain greater than as soon as, and he’s out injured.
In midfield Ramadani is the important thing cog who should strive shield the again 4 and maintain form, whereas Baschirotto is by now an skilled central defender who instructions the again line and truly scored in opposition to Milan final season.
Prediction
The win in opposition to PSG is prone to have taken lots out of the squad and never having Pulisic from the beginning is disappointing, however Milan haven’t any excuses and easily must discover a technique to win this recreation to maintain stress on within the title race.
Lecce 0-1 AC Milan