The headline refers to AC Milan’s 2-0 victory over Lecce in a Serie A match on August 29, 2025, at the Stadio Via del Mare. Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored the opening goal in the 66th minute, heading in a precise free-kick from Luka Modric. Christian Pulisic, who came off the bench in the 77th minute, sealed the win in the 86th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Lecce’s Kialonda Gaspar and Danilo Veiga after a long clearance from goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Despite two disallowed goals earlier in the match—one by Matteo Gabbia for a foul and another by Santiago Gimenez for offside—Milan secured their first points of the 2025-26 season, bouncing back from a loss to Cremonese. For more details, refer to the sports card above.
AC Milan Secures Vital 2-0 Victory Over Lecce in Serie A: Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic Shine
In a hard-fought Serie A match on August 29, 2025, at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero – Via del Mare in Lecce, Italy, AC Milan claimed their first win of the 2025-26 season with a 2-0 triumph over US Lecce. The game, which kicked off at 18:45 UTC (20:45 CEST), saw the Rossoneri, managed by Massimiliano Allegri in his second stint at the club, bounce back from a disappointing 1-2 opening-day loss to newly promoted Cremonese at San Siro. Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the 66th minute and Christian Pulisic in the 86th provided the breakthrough, allowing Milan to pocket three crucial points and climb out of the early relegation zone. Lecce, who started their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Genoa, remained goalless in the league and slipped to seventh in the standings with one point.
Pre-Match Context and Lineups
The fixture was a classic matchup of contrasting fortunes. AC Milan, seven-time European champions and 19-time Serie A winners, entered the game under pressure after their shock debut defeat, where they dominated possession (around 65%) but lacked clinical finishing, registering 24 shots but only two on target. Allegri, appointed on July 1, 2025, with a contract until June 2027, emphasized the need for “order, patience, and solidity” in his pre-match comments, highlighting the importance of set-piece execution and defensive transitions. Lecce, coached by Eusebio Di Francesco (appointed June 26, 2025), were buoyed by a 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Juve Stabia but have historically struggled against Milan, winning just once in 26 meetings (a 1-0 in April 2006) and drawing 13 times, with Milan securing 12 victories. Lecce’s form showed defensive resilience, keeping three consecutive clean sheets across competitions, but their attack has been blunt, scoring only once in their last five games.
Milan lined up in a pragmatic 3-5-2 formation to counter Lecce’s compact setup: Mike Maignan in goal; a back three of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Pieter De Winter; wing-backs Alexis Saelemaekers and Piero Estupiñán; midfield pivots Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Luka Modrić, and Ismaël Bennacer (with Youssouf Fofana as an option); and forwards Santiago Giménez and Tammy Abraham up top. Key absences included star winger Rafael Leão (calf injury) and midfielder Ardon Jashari (broken fibula), forcing Allegri to rely on Modrić’s experience and Pulisic’s impact from the bench. Lecce opted for a disciplined 4-3-3: Wladimiro Falcone in goal; defenders Federico Baschirotto, Kialonda Gaspar, Antonino Gallo, and Valentin Gendrey; midfielders Rémi Oudin, Lameck Banda, and Morten Frendrup; and attackers Nikola Krstovic (recently retired but influential in Coppa), Mohamed Kaba, and Francesco Camarda (the 17-year-old on loan from Milan, born March 2008, making him one of Europe’s youngest Serie A players). Lecce missed Hamza Rafia and Balthazar Pierret due to flu, and Filip Marchwiński and Gaby Jean with ACL tears.
The atmosphere at Via del Mare, with a capacity of 31,533, was electric, as Lecce fans lit flares to welcome their team, creating a smoky haze on the pitch. Di Francesco noted pre-game: “AC Milan excels at turning defense into attack; we’ll need to watch their midfield runners closely.” Predictions favored Milan (odds around 1.64 for an away win), with experts like WinDrawWin forecasting a low-scoring affair under 2.5 goals and BTTS no.
Match Report: A Tale of Patience and Precision
The first half was a cagey affair, with Milan controlling 58% possession but struggling to break down Lecce’s organized defense. The Rossoneri thought they’d taken the lead after just 47 seconds when Giménez fired home from a Theo Hernández pass (Milan had Hernández as a sub option but started conservatively), but VAR ruled it offside. Lecce responded aggressively, nearly scoring in the seventh minute when Krstovic unleashed a stunning long-range strike that curled inside the post, only for Maignan to tip it wide—echoing his heroics in previous seasons. Milan had another scare when Gabbia headed in from a Hernández free-kick around the 15th minute, but again, offside dashed their hopes. Lecce hit the post through Krstovic in the 21st minute and wasted a chance via Pierotti two minutes later, but Maignan’s saves kept it 0-0 at halftime.
The second half saw Milan ramp up the pressure, with Modrić dictating play from deep. The breakthrough came in the 66th minute: Luka Modrić, the 39-year-old Croatian maestro on his Serie A debut for Milan (after joining post-Club World Cup), curled in a precise free-kick from 25 yards, which Loftus-Cheek met with a powerful header, his second Serie A goal overall and first since March 30, 2024, against Fiorentina. It was Loftus-Cheek’s first headed goal from a set-piece in the league, marking his 50th Serie A appearance (behind only Fikayo Tomori’s 131 among English players at Milan since 1994/95). The goal unlocked the game, as Milan became the first team to score at least two goals in 11 consecutive Serie A matches against Lecce—a dominant streak now extended to four straight wins, the second such run in club history.
Lecce pushed for an equalizer, but their attack faltered, managing just two shots on target. Milan defended resolutely, with Tomori and Pavlovic (who came on as a sub) intercepting crosses effectively. The insurance came in the 86th minute: Maignan launched a long clearance, which Lecce defenders Gaspar and Veiga (likely Danilo Veiga) misjudged, allowing substitute Pulisic to pounce, round Falcone, and slot home. It was Pulisic’s first goal of the season and fifth against Lecce in Serie A—more than against any other opponent except Crystal Palace (five). The USMNT star, who entered in the 77th minute, has now scored in four of his last five games against the Salentini, including a brace in their most recent meeting. The final whistle confirmed Milan’s clean sheet, their first of the season, and extended Lecce’s goalless streak to 360 minutes across competitions.
Key stats: Milan had 14 shots (5 on target) to Lecce’s 8 (2 on target), 62% possession, and 6 corners to Lecce’s 4. No cards were issued, reflecting a tactical battle. VAR interventions were crucial, disallowing two Milan goals early on.
Player Performances and Post-Match Reactions
Loftus-Cheek was named Man of the Match for his goal and midfield dominance, while Modrić’s assist (his first for Milan) earned praise for “illuminating” the game— he played all 95 minutes, including stoppage time. Pulisic’s decisive sub appearance reaffirmed his “always clutch” reputation, as noted by Italian media. Giménez and Abraham combined for 12 runs into the box but lacked service without Leão. For Lecce, Camarda showed promise but was isolated; defender Tiago Gabriel impressed in duels despite the loss, dominating physically and earning scout buzz for his tackling.
Allegri, in his post-match interview on Milan TV, said: “We could have done better in some situations tonight, but we’re content with the result. Winning at Lecce is always difficult. Estupiñán struggled initially but grew in the second half, like the team. I liked the order, patience, and solidity—the matches last 95 minutes; you must stay focused.” Di Francesco lamented: “We were competitive, but Milan’s quality prevailed in key moments.” On X (formerly Twitter), fans celebrated: @socceramerica highlighted Pulisic’s “insurance goal,” while @CroatianSoccer noted Modrić’s full-game assist. Betting tips like those from @Trap_The_Bookie (Draw or Milan) cashed in, with users sharing wins.
Broader Implications
This victory marks Allegri’s first Serie A win since returning, signaling stability for a Milan side aiming for a top-four finish after last season’s eighth place and missing Europe. It extends their unbeaten run against Lecce to 12 games (8W, 4D), the longest in the club’s top-flight history against any opponent. For Lecce, the loss ends their clean-sheet streak but keeps them three points above relegation danger; Di Francesco will demand more from attack ahead of hosting Milan again in Coppa Italia on September 23. In the standings, Milan jumps to 15th (tied on points but ahead on goal difference), while early leaders like Inter, Napoli, and Cremonese hold three points. As Serie A matchday 2 continues with fixtures like Bologna vs. Como and Napoli vs. Cagliari, Milan’s momentum could propel them toward Champions League contention. The game, broadcast on platforms like ESPN and CBS Sports, drew global attention, underscoring Serie A’s competitive start. (Word count: 1,248)