AC Milan suffered another big blow to their title hopes against Lecce on Saturday afternoon as they threw away a commanding 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 at the Stadio Via del Mare.
Everything was going ideally for Milan as Olivier Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders got their names on the scoresheet to give the away side a two-goal lead inside 40 minutes.
However, just like in the Napoli game they conceded twice in quick succession. The first was a corner that was poorly defended and Nicola Sansone bundled in at the far post, then Banda’s curling shot levelled it less than three minutes later.
The result means that the Rossoneri have dropped yet more points and could fall as far as eight behind Inter and seven behind Juventus heading into the break.
Stefano Pioli made three changes to the starting line-up as Rade Krunic came into the double pivot allowing Yunus Musah to rest, Tommaso Pobega took Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s place as he was struggling condition-wise, and Samuel Chukwueze replaced the injured Christian Pulisic.
The game started off in a cagey fashion with both sides feeling each other out and looking to get numbers forward after recovering possession. One tactical note was that it was actually Tijjani Reijnders playing furthest forward out of the three, with Pobega playing alongside Rade Krunic.
There was a worrying moment for Milan inside the ninth minute when Rafael Leao pulled up instead of chasing a through ball clutching his muscle and he was forced off, with Noah Okafor taking his place.
Milan had the first big opportunity of the game 13 minutes in when a nice ball over the top from Pobega found the substitute Okafor in space on the left side of the box. He cut in and reversed it to the midfielder, whose shot was well saved by Falcone.
Lecce tested Maignan for the first time midway through the half when Banda found space to shoot from 25 yards out after cutting inside and his effort dipped late but was well gathered.
At the other end the Rossoneri had a chance of their own when Reijnders lobbed a ball up for Chukwueze on the half-volley, yet the Nigerian winger headed well over first time.
In the 28th minute, Milan broke the deadlock and it was Olivier Giroud who continued his impressive recent scoring record. A lovely one-two between Theo and Okafor down the left saw the former find his compatriot with a driven cross that he converted from close range.
Less than 10 minutes after the opener, Milan doubled their advantage as Reijnders finally opened his account. Malick Thiaw started the move from the back and his surging run never ended. Giroud’s decoy attracted Baschirotto allowing the Dutchman to move onto his right foot and finish between Falcone’s legs.
It could have been 3-0 in a very similar way to the second goal when another run from Reijnders into the box went unopposed, though this time his low shot hit the outside of the near post when he might have had options to square.
Lecce were almost back into it immediately when Strefezza got in behind Theo Hernandez and rolled a pass across the face of goal where Banda was waiting, but Maignan made a ridiculous reaction save to deny him.
Pioli elected to make a change at half-time with captain Davide Calabria making way for Yunus Musah, who took up a position at right-back instead of Alessandro Florenzi.
Moments after Lecce had a half-shout for a penalty declined, Chukwueze had the first shot on target of the second half when he cut onto his favoured left foot inside the box, though it rolled weakly into Falcone’s hands.
Lecce nearly scored an own-goal to add to their misery when Reijnders ran to the byline and his cut-back ricocheted around, but Falcone claimed it virtually on the line.
Theo set up the second goal but was wasteful when he surged away in a three-on-one counter, overrunning the ball and having it slid away from him as his penalty appeals rightly fell on deaf ears.
With 66 minutes on the clock, Lecce cut the deficit in half and it was Sansone who once again stung Milan. It was a very similar goal to the one PSG scored in midweek; a corner flicked on at the near post and fired in at the far stick by an unmarked man.
Three minutes later and it was 2-2, and it was an absolute catastrophe of a goal to concede. Musah was caught in possession while Theo was laying on the floor injured having chosen not to kick it out, and Lecce quickly got it into the box where Banda was on hand to curl one inside the far post.
Milan set about trying to re-establish their lead and Theo was close to doing so with a low shot after an infield run that was just wide of the far post.
Chukwueze was withdrawn with 12 minutes left, and Luka Jovic took his place as Milan went two up front.
The home side were inches away from getting ahead for the first time when Gendrey’s cross to the back post met Sansone who beat Florenzi in the air, and the woodwork came to the rescue of Milan.
In the third of four added minutes things got even worse for Milan as Giroud was given his marching orders after arguing with the referee.
The final sting looked like it had come with virtually the last kick of the game. As the Milan side were still protesting to the referee, Piccoli brought down a long ball and shot from about 30 yards out. His effort bent away from a wrong-footed Maignan and nestled inside the near post, sparking rapturous scenes, but it was disallowed for a handball.
