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.
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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, but the referee did not deem the challenge to be red card worthy. 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 needed it least.
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.
Lecce is a defensively tough team to break away. So I give them credit for not giving up. The second half got progressively better. I hope this is a start to something better.
However, it’s clear we need Nkunku and perhaps another defender and a fullback. Let’s see what the last few days brings us.
3 point is important
#forzamilan
Modric is still a magician, what a performance… The missing piece in the midfield, you don’t need physically when u got class… Ask Pirlo!!!
Pavlovic did a wonderful run and set up a spot on pass for Gimenez to squander …
Good “old” Puli…you can always count on the lad
Modric is really class, thats for sure.
Saladmaker is our star player, let that sink in. But, in all fairness, Milan without Leao and Pulisic is always going to be toothless. All things considered, it was a good match, not great, but good. Clean sheet, Mike had very little to do, and we got two goals disallowed which in my mind were 50-50.
Still, the starting lineup was midtable level. No two ways about it. And Mussah as RW is not even at that level. Five in the back where the wingers barely do anything just won’t cut it
Thankfully we got Modric, and Pulisic is always there. Once Leao is back it will look way better. RLC lost, besides the goal. Gimenez 0 confidence. At least they got a win in a hard game.
Much better second half. That RLC goal seemed to settle the team. Good win. Gimenez will be leaving or sitting on the bench. My goodness, a terrible night for him.
Modric, and the return of Salemeakers, the highlights of the market. so far.
Allegri to Musah towards the end of the match “Calma, calma”
Great response. Modrić, the star of the show. Wasn’t excited at all about his signing, but, have to commend him for everything he offer. Milan needed to win, and he kept pushing the team forward. Fofana, in my opinion, was poor. Too many careless passes from him, just as in the first game. The coach needs to use Ricci more. Football is not all about muscle. Saelemaekers, has really improved. I hope he gets better, with the players around him this season. Great team work offensively, and defensively. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t have any fears watching us play Lecce. I still believe we will achieve great things this season. Cremonese game was just a wakeup call. The players, the coach, and the management, needed that to get up on their feet.
3 points. We have lift off. I wasn’t bowled over that after years of waiting Giminez was the man we got in to lead the line but I like what he stands for and I’m willing him to do good. Wished his goal had stood but the truth is he is just not imposing enough and certainly not clinical enough and the through ball he got from Pavlovic with that first touch shows his confidence is shot. We now also know that the club don’t actually seem to know who they want to plug it so the decision to buy him now also doesn’t look thought through. I think he can do well and deserves time but if allegri wanted vlahovic then that is what they should have done. A like for like swap just seems counter productive given he’s had 6 months with the team already. Massive clean sheet away from home so but we still look shaky back there. I want to be optimistic but if last year taught me anything it’s that we’re never far away from from our next blunder. I hope from here we build and build momentum especially with Leao coming back and integrating the new boy. Forza Milan