After suffering three straight defeats, AC Milan must aim to stop the rot on Saturday, when they visit goal-shy Lecce at Stadio Via del Mare.
Having slipped to ninth place in the Serie A standings, Milan are trailing several rivals for European qualification; meanwhile, their hosts are merely concerned with top-flight survival.
Match preview
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Now without a win in four matches, Milan are spiralling into a crisis, with the future of coach Sergio Conceicao - who was only appointed in December - already being called into question.
Since slumping out of the Champions League to injury-hit Feyenoord, the Rossoneri have been beaten 2-1 by Torino, Bologna and Lazio - most recently conceding a 98th-minute goal to suffer defeat against the latter.
Already one down when Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off midway through the second half, Conceicao's side managed to haul themselves level through substitute Samuel Chukwueze; however, captain and goalkeeper Mike Maignan then conceded a stoppage-time spot kick, which was duly converted by Lazio winger Pedro.
Reflecting off-field events, Milan have shown a persistent lack of discipline, collecting 16 red cards across all competitions over the past two seasons - more than any other Serie A side. Notably, four have come in 2025, including the dismissal of Theo Hernandez for diving against Feyenoord.
Their latest setback leaves them sitting ninth in the table, now 11 points shy of Juventus, who hold the final top-four spot - for context, they have 15 points fewer than at this stage last year.
Conceicao's personal points average (1.4) is also the worst of any Milan manager since Marco Giampaolo (1.29), who will welcome his old club to Via del Mare this week.
To stay in the pack hunting European qualification, the second-city giants really must win - particularly having won 22 and lost only two of 37 league games against Lecce.
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In fact, Lecce have won just one home game versus Milan in the Italian top flight, and that sole success came back in April 2006.
Almost 19 years on, Giampaolo's Giallorossi are in need of points to aid their latest fight for Serie A salvation, after taking just two from the last four matches.
Following goalless draws against Bologna and Monza, the Salento side were beaten 1-0 at home by Udinese, before suffering another defeat last time out.
As Lecce left Florence empty-handed after losing 1-0 to Fiorentina, they have now failed to score in more than 360 minutes of trying - a record which befits the league's least effective attack.
Scattergun striker Nikola Krstovic has proved a particular culprit, notching just seven league goals from more than 100 attempts - albeit the Montenegrin is apparently among Milan's summer targets.
Now hovering just three points above the relegation zone, Giampaolo and co remain at risk of dropping down to Serie B, with a number of tough fixtures still ahead of them.
Team News
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Before considering any other tweaks to his Milan team, Sergio Conceicao must make two enforced changes, as both Mike Maignan and Strahinja Pavlovic are suspended. Maignan serves a one-game ban for dissent following last week's loss, in which the latter was sent off.
Marco Sportiello will therefore start in goal; either Fikayo Tomori or Malick Thiaw should partner Mattia Bani at centre-back.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alessandro Florenzi and Emerson Royal are still absent through injury, but Kyle Walker could be ready to start after appearing as a substitute against Lazio.
Only long-term absentee Filip Marchwinski is sidelined for Lecce, as Nikola Krstovic is set to recover from picking up a knock last weekend and Thorir Helgason should overcome an illness.
Part of Milan's 2022 Scudetto-winning squad, Ante Rebic scored 27 goals in 100 games for the Rossoneri; he is now one of several players vying to support Krstovic up front.
Another will be Santiago Pierotti, who missed out on the recent defeat to Fiorentina but is now back in the fold.
Lecce possible starting lineup:
Falcone; Guilbert, Baschirotto, Jean, Gallo; Pierret, Coulibaly; Pierotti, Helgason, Morente; Krstovic
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Sportiello; Walker, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Bondo, Reijnders; Musah, Pulisic, Jimenez; Abraham
We say: Lecce 0-2 AC Milan
Lecce are unlikely to make it easy, but Milan must surely end their winless streak this weekend.
The Rossoneri's abundance of attacking talent should produce at least one goal between them, while their hosts often fail to find the net.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
