AC Milan Beat Lecce As Fullkrug Comes Off Bench To Net Late Winner At San Siro

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AC Milan stayed firmly in the Serie A title race after a 1-0 victory over Lecce at San Siro cut the gap to leaders Inter to three points. Massimiliano Allegri’s side extended an unbeaten league sequence to 20 matches and registered a fifth consecutive Serie A win against Lecce.

The decisive moment came from substitute Niclas Fullkrug, who scored his first goal for the club. The West Ham loanee’s header also placed Fullkrug alongside Oliver Bierhoff and Christian Ziege as the only German players to score for Milan in Serie A.

Milan dictated the game for long spells, limiting Lecce to rare counter-attacks. Allegri’s team produced 20 shots and an expected goals figure of 2.6, while Lecce managed only three attempts. Milan also dominated the ball, registering 68.6% possession and forcing Wladimiro Falcone into several important interventions.

Milan threatened early, creating two openings within a minute. Alexis Saelemaekers bent a shot just past the far post, then Matteo Gabbia headed over from an Adrien Rabiot cross. Soon after, Rafael Leao lifted the ball over Falcone but the assistant’s flag ruled the finish offside.

Falcone kept Lecce level after half-time with sharp saves from Samuele Ricci and Christian Pulisic. Allegri introduced Fullkrug from the bench, and three minutes later Saelemaekers delivered a precise cross. Fullkrug timed the run well and guided a firm header beyond Falcone in the 76th minute.

The result continued a favourable trend for the Rossoneri against Lecce, matching a five-game winning league run previously achieved between 1989 and 1993. Milan also equalled a club benchmark from the 1992-93 campaign under Fabio Capello by going 20 Serie A matches without defeat, while keeping pressure on Inter at the top.