Serie A Regular Season - 2

Lecce 0 - 2 FT AC Milan

Stadio Via del Mare

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
48
FT
Fri, Aug 29
Italiano
Lecce
0-2
AC Milan
⚡ Intensity 51
⚖️ Balance 13
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 80
Clinical Milan silence the Salento crowd.

Milan Masterclass at Via del Mare Defies VAR Drama

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 48/100. A clinical AC Milan side proved their resilience by securing three points despite multiple interventions from the video referee that threatened to derail their evening in Salento.

Frustration Under the Salento Sun

The match at Via del Mare ignited within minutes when Matteo Gabbia appeared to have given the visitors an early lead. However, the celebrations were cut short by a VAR review that identified an infringement, setting a tone of technological frustration for the Rossoneri. An Intensity rating of 8.0 reflected the high-tempo start, as AC Milan dominated possession with 55%, constantly probing a disciplined Lecce backline. Alexis Saelemaekers was central to Milan's creative efforts, but he found a formidable opponent in Tiago Gabriel. The Lecce defender produced an outstanding performance, ensuring the Balance of the match remained level at 0-0 going into the interval, despite the visitors' territorial superiority and frequent forays into the penalty area.

The Breakthrough Amidst the Tension

The second half began with a sense of déjà vu for the traveling fans. In the 62nd minute, Santiago Giménez found the back of the net, only for the VAR to intervene once again and cancel the goal. With the Stakes high for Milan's pursuit of European qualification, the mental fortitude of the squad was put to the test. They responded emphatically just four minutes later. The veteran vision of L. Modric carved open the home defense, providing the assist for R. Loftus-Cheek to power home the opening goal. This breakthrough forced Lecce to abandon their defensive shape, as they sought to avoid a defeat in their ongoing relegation battle. The atmosphere shifted instantly, with Milan finally gaining the tangible reward their controlled play deserved.

Super-Sub Seals the Points

As the clock ticked down, the introduction of C. Pulisic proved to be the masterstroke that ended Lecce's hopes of a late comeback. Coming off the bench in the 77th minute, the American winger added a layer of directness that the tired home defense could not contain. In the 86th minute, Pulisic clinicaly finished a counter-attacking move to make it 0-2, effectively ending the contest. Despite an Upset factor of 0.0, the match remained competitive until the final whistle, with Lecce failing to test the Milan keeper significantly. The result sees Milan continue their climb up the table, while Lecce remains precarious near the drop zone. The Rossoneri’s ability to stay focused through two disallowed goals showcased a professional edge that ultimately defined the result on a challenging evening.

Key Questions

How did VAR change this match?

VAR significantly impacted the tempo by disallowing two Milan goals (Gabbia 5', Giménez 62'), keeping the match scoreless for over an hour despite Milan's dominance.

How did substitute Christian Pulišić change the game?

Pulišić provided the clinical finishing touch after coming on in the 77th minute, scoring the decisive second goal to secure the three points.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
45%
55%
Lecce 45%
AC Milan 55%
Shots
7
14
Lecce 7
AC Milan 14
Shots on Target
2
6
Lecce 2
AC Milan 6
Expected Goals (xG)
0.30
1.85
Lecce 0.30
AC Milan 1.85
Passes
388
482
Lecce 388
AC Milan 482
Pass Accuracy
85%
86%
Lecce 85%
AC Milan 86%
Corners
4
5
Lecce 4
AC Milan 5
Fouls
10
8
Lecce 10
AC Milan 8
Yellow Cards
1
0
Lecce 1
AC Milan 0
Red Cards
0
0
Lecce 0
AC Milan 0

Match Events

Matteo Gabbia 5'
HT
46' 🔄 F. Camarda N. Stulic
63' 🔄 M. Kaba M. Berisha
63' 🔄 S. Pierotti R. Sottil
64' 🟨 Kialonda Gaspar
R. Loftus-Cheek (L. Modric) 66'
R. Loftus-Cheek S. Ricci 🔄 76'
A. Saelemaekers C. Pulisic 🔄 77'
81' 🔄 Y. Ramadani T. J. Helgason
81' 🔄 Tete Morente K. Ndri
C. Pulisic 86'
S. Gimenez C. Balentien 🔄 87'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Lecce

Goalkeepers
W. Falcone
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
D. Veiga
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Gaspar
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Tiago Gabriel
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
A. Gallo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
M. Kaba
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Y. Ramadani
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
L. Coulibaly
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
S. Pierotti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
F. Camarda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Tete Morente
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
BENCH
C. Fruchtl
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Samooja
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
C. Kouassi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Ndaba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Perez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Siebert
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Banda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Berisha
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. J. Helgason
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Maleh
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sala
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Ndri
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Sottil
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Stulic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry

AC Milan

Goalkeepers
M. Maignan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
F. Tomori
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Gabbia
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Pavlovic
MAGNET
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
82
Passes
5
Duels
Midfielders
Y. Musah
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Modric
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
54%
Pass Acc
Y. Fofana
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
P. Estupinan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
R. Loftus-Cheek
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.5
Rating
A. Saelemaekers
MAGNET
MAGNET
51
Activity
51
Activity
38
Passes
13
Duels
S. Gimenez
NPC
NPC
87
Minutes
87
Minutes
10%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
BENCH
M. Pittarella
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
P. Terracciano
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Z. Athekame
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Bartesaghi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. De Winter
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Pulisic
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8
Rating
S. Ricci
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Chukwueze
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Balentien
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
23/09/2025 AC Milan 3 - 0 Lecce Coppa Italia Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
29/08/2025 Lecce 0 - 2 AC Milan Serie A Via del Mare
08/03/2025 Lecce 2 - 3 AC Milan Serie A Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare
27/09/2024 AC Milan 3 - 0 Lecce Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
06/04/2024 AC Milan 3 - 0 Lecce Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
11/11/2023 Lecce 2 - 2 AC Milan Serie A Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare
23/09/2025
3 - 0
Coppa Italia Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
29/08/2025
0 - 2
Serie A Via del Mare
08/03/2025
2 - 3
Serie A Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare
27/09/2024
3 - 0
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
06/04/2024
3 - 0
Serie A Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
11/11/2023
2 - 2
Serie A Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del Mare
Lecce Win
AC Milan Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Napoli 2 6 3 0 +3 WNapoli 1 - 0 Cagliari (30-08-2025)WSassuolo 0 - 2 Napoli (23-08-2025)
2 Juventus 2 6 3 0 +3 WGenoa 0 - 1 Juventus (31-08-2025)WJuventus 2 - 0 Parma (24-08-2025)
3 Cremonese 2 6 5 3 +2 WCremonese 3 - 2 Sassuolo (29-08-2025)WAC Milan 1 - 2 Cremonese (23-08-2025)
4 AS Roma 2 6 2 0 +2 WPisa 0 - 1 AS Roma (30-08-2025)WAS Roma 1 - 0 Bologna (23-08-2025)
5 Udinese 2 4 3 2 +1 WInter 1 - 2 Udinese (31-08-2025)DUdinese 1 - 1 Verona (25-08-2025)
6 Inter 2 3 6 2 +4 LInter 1 - 2 Udinese (31-08-2025)WInter 5 - 0 Torino (25-08-2025)
7 Lazio 2 3 4 2 +2 WLazio 4 - 0 Verona (31-08-2025)LComo 2 - 0 Lazio (24-08-2025)
8 AC Milan 2 3 3 2 +1 WLecce 0 - 2 AC Milan (29-08-2025)LAC Milan 1 - 2 Cremonese (23-08-2025)
9 Como 2 3 2 1 +1 LBologna 1 - 0 Como (30-08-2025)WComo 2 - 0 Lazio (24-08-2025)
10 Bologna 2 3 1 1 0 WBologna 1 - 0 Como (30-08-2025)LAS Roma 1 - 0 Bologna (23-08-2025)
11 Atalanta 2 2 2 2 0 DParma 1 - 1 Atalanta (30-08-2025)DAtalanta 1 - 1 Pisa (24-08-2025)
12 Fiorentina 2 2 1 1 0 DTorino 0 - 0 Fiorentina (31-08-2025)DCagliari 1 - 1 Fiorentina (24-08-2025)
13 Cagliari 2 1 1 2 -1 LNapoli 1 - 0 Cagliari (30-08-2025)DCagliari 1 - 1 Fiorentina (24-08-2025)
14 Pisa 2 1 1 2 -1 LPisa 0 - 1 AS Roma (30-08-2025)DAtalanta 1 - 1 Pisa (24-08-2025)
15 Genoa 2 1 0 1 -1 LGenoa 0 - 1 Juventus (31-08-2025)DGenoa 0 - 0 Lecce (23-08-2025)
16 Parma 2 1 1 3 -2 DParma 1 - 1 Atalanta (30-08-2025)LJuventus 2 - 0 Parma (24-08-2025)
17 Lecce 2 1 0 2 -2 LLecce 0 - 2 AC Milan (29-08-2025)DGenoa 0 - 0 Lecce (23-08-2025)
18 Verona 2 1 1 5 -4 LLazio 4 - 0 Verona (31-08-2025)DUdinese 1 - 1 Verona (25-08-2025)
19 Torino 2 1 0 5 -5 DTorino 0 - 0 Fiorentina (31-08-2025)LInter 5 - 0 Torino (25-08-2025)
20 Sassuolo 2 0 2 5 -3 LCremonese 3 - 2 Sassuolo (29-08-2025)LSassuolo 0 - 2 Napoli (23-08-2025)