Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Serie A match.
A victorious derby has elevated AC Milan to the brink of the European spots, but now it’s crucial for the team to consolidate their recent success. Likely, against US Lecce, who are at the bottom of the table, the team will feel relaxed and confident—here, they can afford defensive mistakes while constantly creating chances upfront.
AC Milan
The win over Inter Milan (2:1) unexpectedly made seemingly crisis-ridden AC Milan the highest-scoring team in Serie A (11 goals). In terms of xG, they lead the tournament alongside Atalanta BC (both with 10.49), so there's nothing to criticise about their attacking players. Perhaps the coaching staff will abandon the 4-4-2 formation, which was specifically designed for the derby, and use a 4-3-3 formation against the underdog, with Álvaro Morata spearheading the attack.
US Lecce
Since the start of Serie A, Lecce have only delighted their fans with a victory over Cagliari Calcio (1:0), but their results have plummeted in the autumn stretch. If draws against Torino FC 1906 (0:0) and Parma Calcio 1913 (2:2) can be considered acceptable outcomes, their elimination from the Coppa Italia against US Sassuolo (0-2), a Serie B side, was a significant blow for the team. In the league, Lecce have allowed 9.53 xGA — the third worst in the tournament.
AC Milan vs US Lecce Prediction
Since US Lecce's promotion to the top division, AC Milan have consistently dealt with the underdog at San Siro (2:0 and 3:0). It's evident that they are set to secure another victory.
