LECCE v AC MILAN: OPPONENT REVIEW

When they face Lecce away from home this weekend, AC Milan will be looking to build on their crucial victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The enthusiasm created from that excellent victory over the French side will now need to be harnessed in the right way to get back on track in the league, where the Diavolo have picked up 22 points from eleven matches so far. It's the slowest start AC Milan have made to a league campaign in the Stefano Pioli era after eleven fixtures (not including 2019/20, during which he took over from Marco Giampaolo ahead of matchday 8).

AC Milan, who have gone three consecutive league games without winning in the league and could extend this negative streak to four matches for the first time since the period between January and February 2023 (five back then: D2, L3), will be aiming to continue their positive run on the road, with the Rossoneri unbeaten in their last three fixtures away from San Siro (W2, D1). On matchday 12 in the Italian top flight, Pioli's men will take to the pitch at the Via del Mare to face a Lecce side who suffered a late defeat to Roma at the Olimpico last time out. After picking up eleven points from their first five matches, Roberto D'Aversa's side haven’t won in six matches (D2, L4), the Salentini's worst run since going eight matches without a victory between February and April this year (D1, L7).

LECCE'S AGGRESSION AND ABILITY TO STAY IN GAMES
Taking a look at Roberto D'Aversa's side during the opening eleven matchdays, their physicality could cause problems for the Rossoneri on Saturday. Indeed, Lecce have won the most duels (569) in Serie A this season and have been the second-best side in terms of tackles won (114), behind only Napoli's total of 116 (AC Milan are second bottom in this particular ranking with 83). Another one of the Salentini's strengths is their ability to remain in matches until the very end: 55% of their goals have arrived in the final 15 minutes of matches (six out of eleven), the highest percentage in the division in that period. On the other hand, one of AC Milan's weaknesses has been the amount of goals they've conceded in the final half an hour: seven out of twelve. 

The Giallorossi have been reliant on their attackers for goals: nine of the eleven they've scored have come from these players (82%, the highest percentage in the division). In terms of goals conceded, Lecce, despite their physicality, are one of the two sides (along with Frosinone) to have shipped the most from headers (five). The Salentini also haven’t always defended dead ball situations well, conceding five from these situations. Only Empoli, Salernitana and Torino (six) have done worse so far. 

LECCE'S WING PLAY AND THE POSSIBLE RETURN OF STREFEZZA
Just like they did against Roma, Lecce will be hoping to surprise AC Milan with their speed down the flanks. After missing four matches due to injury, Lameck Banda provided an assist for fellow winger Pontus Almqvist (who, however, won't be available against AC Milan) against Mourinho's men. It was the third time the Zambian has set up a teammate to score in Serie A this season; de Roon and Felipe Anderson are the only midfielders to have done better in this regard (four assists). Furthermore, against the team from the capital, the No.22 was the Lecce player who had the most shots (three) and completed the most dribbles (four out of the seven he attempted).

Against Stefano Pioli’s men, Gabriel Strefezza should return to the starting line-up after being left out of it for the last two games. The 26-year-old, who is still looking for his first goal from open play this campaign, wants to start adding to his tally, which numbered four goals at this stage of the season in 2022/23. Out of all the players who are yet to find the net this season (excluding goals from the penalty spot), the former SPAL man has had the third-most attempts at goal: 20, behind only Thauvin (24) and Çalhanoğlu (22). With an xG value of 0.78 (penalties not included), he needs to adjust his aim, and he'll undoubtedly be looking to do so against AC Milan.

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