AC MILAN FIGHT BACK TO DRAW IN LECCE

A game of two halves: Lecce and AC Milan drew 2-2 at the Via del Mare on the 18th matchday of Serie A. A disappointing first half meant that the hosts went into the break with a two-goal lead, thanks to Hernández’s own goal and Baschirotto’s header from a cross, and it could easily have been three before half-time. However, the Rossoneri responded well after the break and drew level after goals from Leão and captain Calabria, who scored his first goal of the season. The point in Puglia keeps Pioli’s side in second place, but they now trail Napoli by nine points.

While the first half saw the Rossoneri suffer similar issues to those that plagued the game against Roma and in the Coppa Italia, the second-half reaction was one of the main positives to take from this evening, along with a few decent individual performances from Díaz, Leão and a very lively Bennacer. AC Milan will need to use this second 45 as a springboard for some big games to come. The team will depart Lecce tonight and head to Riyadh ahead of Wednesday's Supercoppa final against Inter. League action returns on Tuesday 24 January with a tricky trip to the capital to take on Lazio.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM LECCE v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
Lecce took the lead after just three minutes: with Kalulu having given the ball away, Di Francesco, aiming for Blin, played in a cross that Theo unluckily bundled into his own net. Lecce had another chance immediately afterwards as Di Francesco found himself free at the back post, but he flashed his effort across the face of goal. AC Milan fashioned their first opportunity in the tenth minute: Díaz picked out Pobega, who, through on goal, was denied by Falcone. However, the hosts weren’t giving much away and doubled their advantage through Baschirotto, who headed home Hjulmand’s cross (23’). Three minutes later, Gendrey failed to convert a free header. The Rossoneri aimed to respond and, with Brahim and Leão looking like the most likely players to get the team back into it, came close when Pobega turned and shot just off target with his right foot in the 38th minute. Pioli’s men were doing more and more attacking, and Lecce were grateful to Falcone as he produced a fine fingertip save to keep out Giroud’s header on the 43-minute mark.

The Coach shook things up at the break, bringing on Dest and Messias. The Diavolo were on the front foot from the off as chances fell to Leão and Díaz. The team’s persistence paid off as they reduced the arrears in the 58th minute: with Falcone having initially parried a shot from Giroud, Leão let fly from a difficult angle and beat the goalkeeper at his near post. It was a goal that galvanised the Rossoneri as they continued to push forward, and they deservedly levelled matters in the 70th minute: Pobega whipped in a cross, Giroud met it with his head and Calabria nodded in his first league goal of the season. There was a scare in the closing stages as the ball ricocheted off Tomori and went narrowly wide from Gallo’s cross (83’), after which, despite the Diavolo committing plenty of bodies forward, there were no real chances to speak of. It finished 2-2 at the Via del Mare.

MATCH DETAILS

LECCE 2-2 AC MILAN

LECCE (4-3-3): Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Pezzella (62' Gallo); Blin, Hjulmand, González (62' Maleh); Strefezza (89' Oudin), Colombo (72' Voelkerling), Di Francesco (72' Banda). Subs: Bleve, Brancolini; Lemmens, Tuia; Askildsen, Bistrović, Helgason; Ceesay, Listkowski, Rodríguez. Coach: Baroni.

AC MILAN (4-2-3-1): Tătăruşanu; Calabria (86' Kjær), Kalulu, Tomori, Hernández (46' Dest); Pobega (86' Vranckx), Bennacer; Saelemaekers (46' Messias), Díaz (69' Origi), Leão; Giroud. Subs: Mirante, Vásquez; Bozzolan, Gabbia, Thiaw; Adli, Bakayoko; De Ketelaere. Coach: Pioli.

Referee: Orsato from Schio.
Goals: 3' o.g. Hernández (L), 23' Baschirotto (L), 58' Leão (M), 70' Calabria (M).
Booked: 64' Maleh (L), 66' Calabria (M), 86' Bennacer (M).

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