AC Milan go into AC Milan vs Lecce with a timing problem that has shaped their start to the season. All seven of their league goals this term have come inside the final half-hour, while Lecce have conceded five of seven goals within 30 minutes of kickoff. Christian Pulisic is also expected to make his first Serie A start of the season after playing the entire second half in midweek.
Milan's late scoring pattern
The numbers point to a match that may stay tight early. Milan have not found an opening goal at any stage before the last 30 minutes in their league matches, so the first half-hour is not just a slow start, it is where they have had to survive without reward.
That is where Lecce's habit matters most. If they again leave space in the opening spell, Milan have already shown they can wait teams out and then strike late. At San Siro, that kind of pattern usually keeps the home side in the game even when the start is flat.
Pulisic and Milan's home edge
Pulisic adds a clean selection twist for Ruben Amorim, who wants a response after Milan's recent run. Milan are winless in their last three matches, with draws against Juventus and Lazio before losing to Benfica, and they have not lost to Lecce at San Siro since the start of this century.
Pulisic's record against Lecce is also hard to ignore. He has five goals in as many Serie A matches against them, and his return to the starting line-up gives Milan a direct runner who has already hurt this opponent before. With Luka Modrić, Adrien Rabiot and Mario Gila Fuentes all part of the wider match picture, the home side have enough quality to make the favourite tag count.
Lecce have won two of their opening four matches, so this is not a side arriving without confidence. Even so, the opening spell looks decisive, and Milan's home record against Lecce, plus Pulisic's fit-for-purpose record in this matchup, gives them the better case at San Siro on Sunday.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
