Lecce vs AC Milan Preview: Team News & Prediction

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The pressure is almost immediately on Massimiliano Allegri as AC Milan head down to Apulia to take on Lecce in Serie A after a shock defeat on the opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
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Lecce preview: Solid Lecce
On the opening day of the 2025/26 Serie A season, Lecce shared a goalless draw with Patrick Vieira’s Genoa at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Liguria, with a very solid and tight defensive performance put in by the Apulians.
They started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Serie B side Juve Stabia in the first round of the Coppa Italia. Lecce have begun reasonably and solid, and they will be expected to struggle this year, but it is a good start.
AC Milan preview: Shock opening day defeat
AC Milan have endured yet another revolution over the summer, with Massimiliano Allegri returning to the dugout at San Siro, but it has been a very tricky start to the campaign for the Rossoneri, with Milan yet to show any positive signs.
Milan managed to edge past Serie B southerners Bari by two goals to nil in the first round of the Coppa Italia a couple of weeks ago, before then suffering a 2-1 loss at home to newly-promoted Cremonese on the opening day of the Serie A season.
Lecce team news: Long-term absentees
Ahead of the visit of Milan down south, Lecce are dealing with a couple of confirmed, longer term absentees such as defender Gaby Jean and midfielder Filip Marchwinski.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Falcone; Veiga, Gaspar, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani, Berisha; Banda, Camarda, Tete Morente
Unavailable: Jean (Injured), Marchwinski (Injured)
Questionable:
AC Milan team news: Leao a doubt
A positive in pre-season has been the form of Portugal international attacker Rafael Leao, but the former Sporting CP man is now a doubt for this one due to a calf injury.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana, Pervis Estupinan; Santiago Gimenez, Pulisic
Unavailable:
Questionable: Leao (Injured)
Lecce vs AC Milan prediction
Lecce have been very solid at the start of this campaign. They have managed to eventually steer themselves clear in each of the last two seasons, but the hosts have seemingly been circling the drain. They face an AC Milan side that, playing in a typically Allegri-style 3-5-2 system, have been very underwhelming in the final third, and so a low-scoring encounter is to be expected for this one.
Lecce vs AC Milan tip: Under 2.5 goals