AC Milan and Lecce go head-to-head at San Siro on Sunday in a Serie A clash, with the Rossoneri pushing Inter in the title race and the Salentini trying to keep clear of the relegation zone.
Milan are unbeaten in the league since the opening day, while Lecce have taken just one point from their first four Serie A fixtures of 2026.
AC Milan vs Lecce – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 18th January.
- Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
- Venue: San Siro, Milan.
AC Milan team news
AC Milan remain without centre-forward Santiago Gimenez, who underwent ankle surgery and is not available against Lecce, limiting Allegri’s options for a traditional number nine.
Strahinja Pavlovic is also highly unlikely to feature after needing stitches for a head wound; Massimiliano Allegri confirmed that “Pavlović will most likely miss the match… Gimenez is still out, but the others are more or less all available” in his pre‑Lecce press conference.
That leaves Mike Maignan protected by a familiar back three of Tomori, Gabbia and De Winter, with depth elsewhere allowing Allegri to consider “some changes” after a demanding run of five games in 16 days.
Lecce team news
Lecce arrive at San Siro with significant absences in defence and midfield. First-choice defenders Kialonda Gaspar and Danilo Veiga are both suspended, leaving Eusebio Di Francesco to reshuffle his back line.
In midfield, Medon Berisha remains sidelined with a knee problem, while Balthazar Pierret is a doubt after recent back issues, reducing options in the engine room.
Teenage striker Francesco Camarda – on loan from AC Milan – is still recovering from a shoulder injury and is not expected to face his parent club, although recent reports have downplayed the long‑term seriousness of the issue.
Form
AC Milan
Milan’s 3-1 comeback win away to Como in a rescheduled fixture underlined their resilience; Maignan made a crucial save at 1-0 before Nkunku’s penalty and an Adrien Rabiot brace turned the game around.
That result followed draws against Genoa and Fiorentina and wins over Cagliari and Verona, leaving the Rossoneri on 43 points from 20 games, three behind leaders Inter but with their Scudetto hopes very much intact.
Lecce
By contrast, Lecce have lost four of their last five league games, collecting only a single point – a backs‑to‑the‑wall 1-1 draw at Juventus in which they were heavily out‑shot but clung on for a result.
Defeats to Como, Roma, Parma and Inter in that sequence have left Di Francesco’s side 17th, on 17 points from 20 matches and just three clear of the relegation zone.
Predicted lineups
AC Milan: Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, De Winter; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leao
Lecce: Falcone; Kouassi, Gabriel, Siebert, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Gandelman, Sottil; Stulic
How to watch AC Milan vs Lecce?
UK and Ireland viewers can watch AC Milan vs Lecce live on DAZN, with additional coverage via TNT Sports/Discovery+.
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