2 hours ago
25
AC Milan got their first win of 2026 at San Siro on Sunday night, thanks to a late goal from Niclas Fullkrug. A key moment for the German, and perhaps for the season.
It seemed like it was heading to be another one of those nights, as Milan failed to capitalise on large periods of dominance. The opening 70 minutes were filled with chances, but getting the final touch was proving to be challenging.
That was until Fullkrug entered the pitch. Just three minutes after coming off the bench, he nodded home his first goal for the club, after a superb ball from Alexis Saelemaekers.
It was then Massimiliano Allegri’s side who converted to a low block, but they did not face any real pressure and held on with ease. A huge win.
Match report
Allegri chose to make four changes to the starting line-up from the team that beat Como on Thursday night. The defence remained the same, with Ardon Jashari, Samuele Ricci and Pervis Estupinan coming into the midfield line, and Christian Pulisic starting up front with Rafael Leao.
After a rather cagey opening to the game, Milan came close to taking the lead after five minutes with their first shot on goal. A nice pass from Jashari broke the line with Ricci then feeding Alexis Saelemaekers, who came inside onto his left foot but curled a shot a couple of yards wide of the top corner.
Less than one minute later, Matteo Gabbia failed to hit the target with a header from a cross when he will have expected to hit the target. Then, Pulisic was bundled over inside the box trying to get to a Saelemaekers cut-back, though play was waved on.
Milan had the ball in the back of the net in the ninth minute as Rafael Leao’s run in behind was found and he lifted the ball over Falcone, yet the offside flag had rightly gone up as he strayed a couple of yards offside.
The Rossoneri put Lecce under plenty of pressure in the opening quarter of the game, with Saelemaekers and Pulisic coming close to finding Leao’s darts through on goal, with it becoming obvious that the Portuguese was in the No.9 role.
It continued to be pretty much one-way traffic in the build-up to the break. Falcone made his first real stop of the game as Saelemaekers slipped a pass through to Pulisic on the right side of the box, and his low attempt was blocked by the legs of the experienced goalkeeper.
The second half began just as the last had ended, with Lecce sitting in their compact shape, inviting the Diavolo to come forward, and they did.
Five minutes after the break, Estupinan made a nice run on the left side of the box, and his cross fell to Saelemaekers. The Belgian decided against a first-time shot, but when he did pull the trigger, his effort was sent behind for a corner.
Matteo Gabbia did raise highest from the set piece, and met the cross with ease, but his header went over the bar, unfortunately.
Both Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci also looked to be more aggressive as the second half found its rhythm. The Swiss midfielder chased a few balls into Lecce’s half, whilst also making a nice driving run in the early stages of the half, but he struggled to make anything happen.
However, the biggest chance of the first 15 minutes fell to Ricci, who found himself on the edge of the box. He took aim and fired towards Falcone – who was noticeably struggling with a shoulder injury – but the goalkeeper got down well for yet another corner to the Diavolo.
It was a bit of a shock to the system when the Giallorossi earned a corner after a bit of slopiness from Allegri’s side in midfield, and it seemed like it was going to provide a chance for a potential counter, as Rabiot won possession.
His pass sent Saelemaekers away, and Leao could’ve been given a chance to run at a vulnerable defence, but he failed to really control the ball.
Then, the flow returned in Milan’s favour, with Falcone establishing himself as the man of the hour as the game entered its final third, with the pressure being applied heavily.
Some nice play on the left saw Leao receive the ball on the edge of the box. Rather than going himself, he slipped Pulisic through the defence. However, the American couldn’t get the ball past Falcone, who made a superb save.
Attack after attack, the Rossoneri continued to make chances, with several coming down the left side. This time, Estupinan found Rabiot inside the box, but the Frenchman’s first-time effort went over the bar. Another chance, yes, but another one squandered.
With 20 minutes to go, Allegri looked to his bench, opting to bring Ricci and Pulisic off for Niclas Fullkrug and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
It was almost an immediate impact from the German, too, as he attempted to prod home Jashari’s corner. However, he was just a bit slow, with Falcone meeting the ball before him, preventing him from making a meaningful connection.
The other substitute almost got himself on the scoresheet just minutes after, but Loftus-Cheek couldn’t get a proper touch in front of goal either.
Though the Rossoneri were not left regretting their errors for too long, though. As Fullkrug eventually got himself off the mark for his new club, getting the opening goal of the night.
Gabbia released Saelemaekers down the line, and the Belgian controlled the ball superbly. Within just a few touches, he was at the byline and hooked in a ball to the penalty area, where that physical presence was waiting.
A typical poacher’s goal, and his first for the club at a vital time. If nothing else, a slight chance to breathe!
Allegri opted to make a few changes after the goal, bringing Zachary Athekame on for Saelemaekers, whilst Leao and Jashari made way for Luka Modric and Christopher Nkunku.
Like those who came before him, Nkunku also had a chance to make an impact relatively quickly, with the Frenchman sent away on the counter. However, he opted to try turn back on himself on the edge of the box, rather than committing to a shot.
As the
English (US) ·