Milan secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Lecce at San Siro, marking their third consecutive Serie A win and continuing their strong start to the season under new manager Paulo Fonseca. The match saw an open and lively first half, with Lecce threatening early when Mike Maignan made a crucial save to deny Nikola Krstovic from scoring for the visitors. However, Milan soon took control, and their breakthrough came in the 38th minute. Alvaro Morata rose highest to meet Theo Hernandez’s pinpoint free-kick, heading home to give Milan the lead.
Milan's confidence surged following Morata’s opener, and within minutes, they doubled their advantage. Rafael Leao played a perfectly timed pass behind Lecce’s defense, allowing Hernandez to slot the ball past Wladimiro Falcone for Milan’s second goal. Lecce struggled to regain their footing, and just moments later, Christian Pulisic capitalized on a rebound after Tammy Abraham’s initial shots were denied by both the post and Falcone, extending the lead to 3-0.
The Rossoneri continued to press after halftime, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek coming close to adding a fourth, his cross-turned-shot striking the crossbar. Despite a red card for Davide Bartesaghi in the 80th minute, reducing Milan to 10 men, they maintained dominance and kept Lecce at bay for the remainder of the match. Lecce managed just two shots on target, unable to find a way past Milan’s resolute defense.
This victory marks a turning point for Milan under Fonseca, who has guided the team to three consecutive wins after a rocky start to the season. The Rossoneri's tactical discipline and aggressive early play have become hallmarks of Fonseca’s approach, with Milan leading the way in first-half goals, second only to Barcelona across Europe's top five leagues.
Rafael Leao once again played a pivotal role, assisting Hernandez’s goal and continuing his excellent form. His involvement in six goals against Lecce in Serie A equals his best against any team, tied with Hellas Verona and Roma. Milan’s expected goals (xG) tally of 1.59 from 15 shots during the match reflected their attacking intent, with six of those efforts on target.
The win keeps Milan firmly in contention for the top spots in Serie A, as Fonseca’s system begins to take shape. The team’s ability to strike early and apply sustained pressure is proving key to their success this season, and fans will be hopeful that this run of form continues as the campaign progresses.
