AC MILAN v LECCE: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan are set to face Lecce in matchday 21 of Serie A 2025/26. The match will take place on January 18 at 20:45 CET at San Siro. Coach Allegri's team aims to strengthen their position in the standings, while Eusebio Di Francesco's side looks to climb the table. As the league heats up, every point becomes crucial for both teams' ambitions. Let's take a look at this fixture with our Match Preview.

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
AC Milan head into this match in good form. In their last Serie A clash, the Rossoneri secured a convincing 3-1 victory away against Como, showcasing solidity and determination. Previously, the draw against Fiorentina left a bitter taste, but the team quickly bounced back. In Serie A, AC Milan are displaying consistency in results that bodes well for the rest of the season. Christian Pulisic is likely to return to the starting line-up after being on the bench against Como. Gimenez, who has been absent for a while, remains unavailable, and Strahinja Pavlović has been back with the squad wearing a noticeable bandage. Fofana is one booking away from suspension.

"Lecce come into this match on the back of two excellent performances against Parma and Inter", Massimiliano Allegri said in his press conference. "But the results haven't reflected what they've shown in terms of work rate and defensive organisation. For us, it'll be an important game because we need to build on the good win against Como. We’ll need focus, compactness, and to be alert to their pace. We mustn't rush; good technique and a solid defensive performance will be key to securing a positive result."

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LATEST FROM LECCE
Lecce, led by Eusebio Di Francesco, are going through a challenging period. In their last three Serie A matches, the Giallorossi have suffered defeats against Roma, Parma, and Inter. Despite the difficulties, the side from Salento is determined to turn things around and get back on track to securing those vital survival points. The draw against Juventus was a positive sign, but recent losses have complicated their standing. For the Giallorossi, Gaspar and Veiga are suspended, while Banda is one booking away from suspension. Francesco Camarda is the only injured player with an issue with his shoulder.

"We need to believe in ourselves even more than we did against Inter," said Di Francesco ahead of the match. "We're facing a strong, high-quality side, so we'll need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes and avoid mistakes that could cost us."

PRE-MATCH STATS

• AC Milan have won the last four Serie A matches against Lecce, after being defeated in three of the previous five (3D); the last time the Rossoneri achieved five consecutive wins against the Giallorossi in the league was between 1989 and 1993.
• AC Milan (12W, 7D) have remained unbeaten for 19 consecutive matches within the same Serie A season for the first time since the period between January and May 2004, with Carlo Ancelotti as coach (19 - 15W, 4D). The Rossoneri have not gone 20 matches in a row in the same league without losing since the first seven months of the 1992/93 season (first 23 matches of that season without losing, the coach was Fabio Capello).
• Adrien Rabiot, who scored a decisive brace against Como, has never managed to score in two consecutive Serie A matches in his career, while in the top five European leagues, he scored in more than one consecutive appearance in February 2025 with Marseille (a series of three). The Frenchman is one of only three midfielders in the current tournament with at least three goals and three assists (along with Nico Paz and Scott McTominay).

WHERE TO WATCH AC MILAN v LECCE
In Italy, the match will be broadcast live on DAZN. To watch it from another country, you can consult the section "Where to watch Milan on TV" under "Abroad". On Rossoneri channels, the focus will be on Milan TV's Matchday coverage: the live broadcast will begin at 20:00 and run up to kick off, followed by post-match interviews and Mister Allegri's press conference. Coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, the official Social channels and WhatsApp is not to be missed.

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LATEST FROM SERIE A
The referee for the match will be Luca Zufferli, assisted by Marco Ceccon and Paolo Laudato. Fourth official Matteo Marcenaro. VAR will be managed by Luigi Nasca, assisted by Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni.

Matchday 21 kicked-off on Friday, 16 January, with Pisa 1-1 Atalanta. Yesterday, Saturday 17 January, featured Udinese 0-1 Inter, Napoli 1-0 Sassuolo and Cagliari 1-0 Juventus. Sunday's fixtures see Parma v Genoa at 12:30 CET, Bologna v Fiorentina at 15:00 CET, Torino v Roma at 18:00 CET, and AC Milan v Lecce at 20:45 CET. Finally, on Monday, there will be Cremonese v Hellas Verona at 18:30 CET and Lazio v Como at 20:45 CET.

Here are the current standings: Inter* 49; AC Milan and Napoli* 43; Juventus* and Roma 39; Como 34; Atalanta* 32; Bologna 30; Lazio 28; Udinese* 26; Sassuolo* and Torino 23;  Cagliari*, Cremonese and Parma 22; Genoa 19; Lecce 17; Fiorentina and Pisa* 14; Hellas Verona 13. ^{(* = played 1 more match)}

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