LECCE v AC MILAN: MATCH PREVIEW

AC Milan are preparing to take on Lecce on Serie A matchday 28, scheduled for 8 March at 18:00 CET. The match will be played away at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare. Sérgio Conceição's side will look for a positive result following their recent run of results, while Marco Giampaolo's side will look to make the most of their home advantage. The league is heating up and every point is becoming more and more crucial for the ambitions of both sides. We approach kick-off with our Match Preview. 

LATEST FROM MILANELLO
It's currently the most difficult moment of the season for the Rossoneri, who arrive in Puglia coming off the back of three consecutive losses - each 2-1 - against Torino, Bologna and Lazio. The past week has marked the first full training week of 2025 (the first time without midweek commitments since the Christmas break) and the daily work at Milanello can help the team in reacting, in order to climb up the league standings and keep our European hopes alive. The loss at home to the Biancocelesti left behind the suspensions of Maignan and Pavlović (Sportiello and Gabbia will be replace him), but there is good news coming from the medical room: Florenzi is back with the group, Loftus-Cheek is close to returning.

Coach Conceição spoke in his press conference, stating: "I am expecting a difficult game, but it's one we need to win. It is the way to get out of this difficult period. As a team, we have to do much more: we have to believe in ourselves and show this on the pitch. From the moment I arrived, we have played crucial matches, but it's now time to think about Lecce; the Coppa Italia is important, but not now. We've had a good week, I am happy with how the team has worked. The players are involved, the team is nearly back to full-strength with the return of Florenzi. We must never lack desire, I'll make my decisions in order to pick the best team". 

LATEST FROM LECCE
The Giallorossi come into the match following a series of contrasting results, with two narrow losses at home to Udinese and in Firenze against Fiorentina. In general, the Giallorossi did not score during February, with their last goals coming against Parma on 31 January: the home goal drought is longer, with the last goal coming in December against Lazio, courtesy of Tete Morente. Lecce will aim to make the most of their home support to get a good result, knowing that every point is crucial for survival. Giampaolo confirmed that Helgason and Krstović have fully recovered, and Banda will also be available. Coulibaly and Ramadani are in contention to start in midfield, with Marchwinski being the only player to miss the game. Musah will be the only AC Milan player at risk of suspension, with the Giallorossi have three players: Rafia, Ramadani and Pierotti. 

"I'm not going to analyse AC Milan's situation at home. I prepare for matches by reflecting on the current opponent, without evaluating internal dynamics and probable choices: we need to prepare for the match based on the team who played against Lazio, who have scored ten goals from eleven games", stated Marco Giampaolo on the eve of the match. "We're coming up against a top side from a technical point of view, who have showed that they can beat anyone but who have also had some slip-ups. In the last two matches, we haven't lacked fight, we've had some difficulties deadling with the quality of the opponent. We must get the best from what we have and our own characteristics".

PRE-MATCH NUMBERS

• AC Milan have only lost two of their 37 previous matches against Lecce in Serie A (22 wins, 13 draws): when it comes to teams that we have faced at least 30 times in the top flight, the Rossoneri have only avoided defeat to SPAL, less than the Salentini. The last two matches in Salento ended in draws, both at home and 2-2. 
• At the Via del Mara, the Rossoneri won their only ever game in the top flight having to come from three goals down: from 3-0 to 3-4 on 23 October 2011 (hat trick from Boateng and goal from Yepes in the second half, following the goals from the Giallorossi in the first half from Giacomazzi, Oddo and Grossmüller),
• AC Milan are the side that Ante Rebić has played the most games against (100) and scored the most goals against (27) in his career in the top five European leagues. He has recorded one win and defeat (in the reverse fixture in the league) in the two previous meetings in Serie A, without being involved in a goal. 
• Since his debut in Serie A in Empoli v AC Milan, no other Rossonero has completed more dribbles (10, like Rafael Leão), won more fouls in the final-third (three) and had more shots (15) than João Félix, in the league. In addition, excluding the defenders, only Youssouf Fofana (15) has recovered more passes than the Portuguese player in this period of the season (14, on par with Musah and Reijnders, but with the least number of minutes out of the three - 356')

WHERE TO WATCH LECCE v AC MILAN
In Italy, Lecce v AC Milan will be broadcast on DAZN. To watch it in a different country, you can check the "Where to Watch AC Milan on TV" section under "Abroad." On the Rossoneri channels, the Matchday coverage on Milan TV will begin at 17:15 CET, leading up to kick-off, followed by interviews and a press conference with Coach Conceição. Don't miss the coverage on acmilan.com, the AC Milan Official App, official social media channels and WhatsApp.

LATEST FROM SERIE A
The clash at the Via del Mare will be officiated by Daniele Doveri, who will officiate his 240th game, 31 one of which involved AC Milan: our last match involving the referee from Volterra was AC Milan 1-0 Napoli last season. The linesmen will be Di Gioia and Di Monte, the fourth official will be Massimi, Chiffi will be in charge of VAR and AVAR will be Marini. 

Cagliari 1-1 Genoa kicked off, Friday 7 March, Serie A matchday 28. The schedule for Saturday 8 is as follows: other than Lecce v AC Milan at 18.00 CET, two clashes at 15.00 CET (Como v Venezia and Parma v Torino) and Inter v Monza at 20.45 CET.  Hellas Verona v Bologna (12.30 CET), Napoli v Fiorentina (15.00 CET), Empoli v Roma (18.00)  Juventus v Atalanta (20.45 CET) will all play on Sunday 9. The final game of the matchday will be on Monday 10, with Lazio v Udinese at 20.45 CET.

 The current standings: Inter 58; Napoli 57; Atalanta 55; Juventus 52; Lazio 50; Bologna 47; Fiorentina 45; Roma 43; AC Milan 41; Udinese 39; Torino 34; Genoa* 32; Como 28; Hellas Verona and Cagliari* 26; Lecce 25; Parma 23; Empoli 22; Venezia 18; Monza 14.
_{* = a game in hand}

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