Niclas Füllkrug’s 76th-minute strike proved the difference as AC Milan labored to a narrow victory over resolute Lecce at San Siro, extending their Serie A campaign with three hard-earned points.
The Rossoneri dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, monopolizing 68.8% possession and peppering Wladimiro Falcone’s goal with 20 shots. Yet Lecce’s goalkeeper stood firm, producing five crucial saves to keep his side level deep into the second half.
Milan’s midfield maestros orchestrated wave after wave of attacks. Samuele Ricci pulled the strings with four key passes, while Adrien Rabiot delivered a commanding 8.7-rated performance with two penetrating balls of his own. Alexis Saelemaekers proved instrumental with three key passes before his decisive contribution arrived.
The breakthrough finally came 14 minutes from time when Saelemaekers turned provider, setting up Füllkrug to fire past the overworked Falcone. The German striker’s clinical finish rewarded Milan’s territorial dominance, which had yielded 10 corner kicks to Lecce’s meager two.
Manager adjustments shaped the match’s closing stages. Christian Pulisic and Ricci entered on 72 and 73 minutes respectively, injecting fresh energy before the goal arrived. Lecce responded desperately with four substitutions in the final 11 minutes, including Ylber Ramadani who picked up a yellow card moments before being withdrawn.
Milan’s defensive solidity complemented their attacking prowess. The back line, marshaled by Matteo Gabbia, Koni De Winter, and Fikayo Tomori, limited Lecce to just three shots—none troubling Mike Maignan.
The 90% pass completion rate underscored Milan’s control, though Lecce’s admirable 80% tackle success rate demonstrated their defensive resilience. Ultimately, quality told, delivering Milan a vital, if unconvincing, victory.
