LECCE v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

Since last November, the Serie A league table has told an interesting story, only three sides are unbeaten in the last five league games: AC Milan, Juventus, and the Rossoneri's next opponents, Lecce. The game at the Stadio Via del Mare, therefore, is one that the visitors will not be taking lightly. Facing each other are two teams that have collected the same amount of points in their last five Serie A fixtures, with three wins and two draws for a total of eleven points: only Juventus (15) and Napoli (12) have earned more in the same period. But that's not all, the trip south for the Rossoneri is particularly tricky also due to the fact that since the beginning of November only Juventus (zero) have let in less goals than the side from Salento: three, with an average of 0.6 per game against 1.25 (more than double) in the previous twelve league games. 

As well as the difficult defence to breakdown, the Rossoneri will also have to be aware of their opponents' attacking prowess. In fact, Lecce have netted in each of their last five Serie A matches, scoring seven goals (just one less than AC Milan), which represents 44% of the Giallorossi's total goals scored in the season so far (16). It has all the ingredients for an exciting encounter and, thanks to the good recent league form, we'll see if the Salentini can extend their winning run at home, with three top-flight wins on the spin, for the first time since 2004 (six on that occasion, spanning the 2003/04 and 2004/05 season).    

AC MILAN OUT OF THE TRAPS QUICKLY, LECCE LESS SO
Both sides' biological clock has been operating at opposite ends of the spectrum this campaign. Whilst Lecce take time to get into a game - alongside Sassuolo they have scored the least number of goals (two) in the opening 30 minutes of play - Stefano Pioli's men like to strike early, with twelve goals already scored in the first 30 minutes, a record shared with Lazio and Inter. The Rossoneri do have a tendency to run out of steam though in the final 15 minutes of the first half (only two goals scored), with the Giallorossi, instead, showing the best of themselves, having grabbed half of their league goals during this period of the game (eight out of 16). Marco Baroni's lads are impressive in pressing and like to win back possession in their opponents' half (132 times) - only Inter (157), Napoli (142) and Sampdoria (136) have better records - even if only two goals have come from this tactic. The same can't be said about AC Milan who hold the record for the most number of goals scored after winning back possession high up the field (five).

SPECIAL TALENTS: COLOMBO AND STREFEZZA, FALCONE TAKES CHARGE AT THE BACK
After a troubled start, which saw them score only more than one goal in a game once in the opening twelve Serie A fixtures, Lecce seemed to have found their rhythm and goals in the last five league games thanks to, as well as others, a former AC Milan youth team player Lorenzo Colombo, who has bagged two goals and made two assists in the Salentini's last five goals. The 20-year-old forward made eleven appearances for the Rossoneri, even scoring a goal in the 2020/21 Europa League qualifying game against Bodø/Glimt, and is the youngest player to have at least four goals to his name in the current league campaign. As well as Federico Di Francesco, supporting him in Marco Baroni's front three is Gabriel Strefezza: Lecce's current top goalscorer in Serie A with five goals and who faced AC Milan in the 2019/20 season with SPAL. Strefezza is the player to have been involved in most goal-scoring opportunities for Lecce (total number of shots and chances created) in this 2022/23 season (36, at least more than any other teammate). Finally, the Salentini will have between the sticks Wladimiro Falcone who, out of all the goalkeepers with at least eight appearances this season, has made the second highest percentage of saves (75%), behind only Wojciech Szczęsny (89%). This would have been a David versus Goliath contest in the past, can we call it that now, on this occasion? 

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