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AC Milan had to work for their first win of the Serie A season, but they claimed three points with two goals against Lecce.
Considering the time between the fixture and the mercato’s end, this was a game in which Milan had to show their true selves, as a collective and as players. Though the Rossoneri were made to work for the game.
On another day, there could well have been a few more goals for the visitors, as Massimiliano Allegri relied on the 3-5-2 system once again. He saw his side go ahead twice, with both being ruled out by the technology.
Then, in the 66th minute, Ruben Loftus-Cheek got his side ahead, with a nice header from Luka Modric’s set piece.
The game
Within the first minutes, Milan looked to get on the front foot quickly, with Lecce instantly putting all 11 men behind the ball in a very tight block of a 4-4-2. From the off, the Rossoneri were going to have to work if they wanted anything from the game.
A beautiful ball through from Pervis Estupinan found Santiago Gimenez bearing down on goal, and the Mexican opted to play through Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who combined with Yunus Musah to win a corner.
It seemed like the Diavolo had the lead within five minutes, as Luka Modric delivered a fantastic ball into the box. Matteo Gabbia rose highest and headed home, making it 1-0. However, VAR opted to rule the goal out due to some grappling in the box; a harsh one, indeed.
After that ruled-out goal, Milan were on the back foot a little, with Lecce looking to pounce whilst the visitors were slightly vulnerable. A few defensive shakes also didn’t help, with the Rossoneri making their own work more difficult than it needed to be.
Regardless of this, the momentum had certainly swung, and the hosts were starting to look a little more dangerous, whilst Allegri’s men took a more reserved approach.
When they did break forward, the same sloppiness from the back applied, with touches regularly going astray or the wrong ideas being executed. Basic mistakes, just as was the case last weekend against Cremonese, really.
As the 20th minute struck, it seemed Lecce could be the ones to take the lead, as the Giallorossi drove into the box, a challenge in the box had the hosts complaining for a penalty, whilst a pinball situation ensued ahead of Mike Maignan’s goal.
However, the penalty was not given, and the Rossoneri escaped without conceding. Another period of sloppiness, though.
A period of very ‘meh’ football followed next, unfortunately, there is no better way to put it. Both teams tried to find a way through each other, yet nothing was really done, resulting in the ball being overly recycled.
Of course, periods like this do happen. However, the game was lacking quality as the half reached its final third.
A long ball then nearly came good for the Rossoneri, as Ruben Loftus-Cheek was played through the middle. The ball dropped over his shoulder, and he tried to take it past the goalkeeper. However, he got his feet muddled, and Falcone gladly claimed the ball.
Just a few minutes later, the midfielder had another fantastic opportunity. However, his header goalwards was clawed out by Falcone, and the score remained level. A chance that Loftus-Cheek had to do better with, really.
For what it’s worth, the lack of some inspiration was shown quite heavily, and this is where Christopher Nkunku could be a really big player for the Diavolo.
Milan were able to get a hold of the Lecce half, playing the ball around, but there was no one to really make a killer move, barring Modric, who was desperate to find an opening, whilst his teammates did not really move around the box. Very stagnant, something which only creates questions, unfortunately.
The sloppiness continued at the back, too, as Pierotti was able to get into the penalty area, somehow. Luckily, he couldn’t punish the poor defensive work. Though again, questions could certainly be asked about how it came to that situation.
It could have been 0-1 as the Rossoneri went into half-time, with Gimenez making a fantastic run after getting himself onside. However, the Mexican could not even get his shot on target, as the ball glided past the post.
As first halves go, a lot to work on for the Diavolo. This was to be expected, but the level was far behind the standard required.
The first half began with Camarda being taken off by Lecce; the youngster did not get many opportunities in the first 45, but certainly looked no worse than the Rossoneri’s offering.
Perhaps the biggest chance of the game, at least for the hosts, came shortly after, with Stulic knocking a nice ball through to Kaba. But Maignan saved the shot quite easily, either way an early warning sign for Allegri’s side.
Modric made a nice delivery into the back post in the 55th minute, and Saelemaekers played the ball back to Estupinan, but the Ecuadorian’s wild shot flew well past the goal.
As Lecce looked to come forward, the Rossoneri gave away several sloppy fouls, first with Gimenez and then with Fikayo Tomori. Just basic errors that looked below them, said without an ounce of arrogance.
Loftus-Cheek, again, found himself quite involved going forward and played a nice ball through to Modric, but the Croatian was unlucky with his touch falling out of his feet, meaning he could not do anything.
Shortly after, Milan, again, thought they had the lead, this time after Santiago Gimenez was played through the lines; the Mexican finished well, this time trickling the ball past the right side of the post. However, he was deemed to be offside.
A goal that would have been really big for the Rossoneri, both literally and in the mercato. Though it was not to be.
In their next attack, the Rossoneri thought they could have been given a man advantage, as Gaspar dragged down Saelemaekers. Then, from the resulting free-kick, Allegri’s side got themselves ahead.
Modric delivered a sweet free-kick into the box, and Loftus-Cheek just had to glance it home, a fantastic set piece from the Croatian, and a deserved goal after being denied twice by the technology already.
With the goal, Allegri did not wait too long to make some changes, opting to bring on Samuele Ricci and Christian Pulisic for the goalscorer, Loftus-Cheek, and Saelemaekers, who had another bright game for the Rossoneri.
Just minutes after the changes, Lecce almost drew level through Stulic. However, Maignan got down well and kept the shot out.
Shortly after coming on, Ricci almost made his own impact, finding himself in a good position inside the box. He rifled a shot towards goal, but Falcone met it well and turned it behind for a corner, something to make Allegri take notice, though, definitely.
Milan then wrapped up three points through Pulisic, who else would it be. The American was forced to start as a substitute due to an ankle issue. However, he still made an impact after being played through.
As he drove at Falcone, the ‘keeper tried to close the goal, but the attacker slotted home calmly, delivering as he so often has for the Diavolo. On another day, it would have been Milan’s fourth, but they would have to settle for two.
Shortly after, Balentien came on for Gimenez, who had a difficult game when he probably least needed it.
A game as frustrating as it was relieving. The Rossoneri had to dig deep to get three points, without even considering the outside pressures and last week’s game. However, they had a job to do and did it, even keeping a clean sheet.
In other words, a chance to breathe, with the Diavolo going into the international break off the mark.
English (US) ·