AC Milan secured a 3-0 victory over Lecce on Friday, drawing level with Torino at the top of Serie A. This win followed their recent derby triumph against Inter Milan. The three goals, scored within a five-minute span in the first half by Alvaro Morata, Theo Hernandez, and Christian Pulisic, marked Milan's third consecutive league victory, placing them at 11 points alongside Torino.
Milan’s superior goal difference would have positioned them at the top of the league, but they have played one more match than Torino. Manager Paulo Fonseca's squad had additional chances to extend the lead, with Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both hitting the woodwork on either side of half-time.
The match had one downside for Milan when young defender Davide Bartesaghi received a red card just 10 minutes after entering the game. He was sent off for a reckless challenge on Lameck Banda. Despite the late setback, Milan will now shift focus to their upcoming Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
Key players like Pulisic and Hernandez continue to perform well. Pulisic scored his fourth goal in four matches, while Hernandez, who set up Morata’s opening goal, contributed to the team with a well-taken second goal. Milan will need this momentum as they prepare for the crucial European contest, especially after a difficult home defeat against Liverpool in their opening Champions League match earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan have the chance to join Milan and Torino at the Serie A summit if they can defeat Udinese in Saturday’s early fixture. Following their derby loss to Milan, Inter will aim to rebound ahead of their Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade.
For Lecce, this defeat capped off a disappointing week. After conceding two late goals in last weekend’s draw against Parma, they were eliminated from the Italian Cup by Sassuolo. Currently sitting just one point above the relegation zone, Lecce are facing a challenging season under coach Luca Gotti.
