Milan vs Lecce: will Milan extend their unbeaten run?
On Sunday, 18 January, Milan will host Lecce at home as part of Matchday 20 of Italy’s Serie A. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET, and I am offering a betting pick for this match.
Milan vs Lecce: match facts and head-to-head
- Milan are unbeaten in five consecutive matches: three wins and two draws.
- Milan have scored at least one goal in each of their last five matches.
- At home, Milan are unbeaten in ten straight matches: three draws and seven wins.
- Milan have scored in every home match this season.
- Lecce have failed to win for five consecutive matches.
- Lecce have lost their last three matches in a row.
- In away matches, Lecce are winless in four straight games: one draw and three defeats.
- Milan currently boast the second-best attack in Serie A with 33 goals scored.
- Lecce have the worst defence in the Italian championship – 13 goals conceded.
- This season, Milan have won 43% of their matches with a clean sheet.
- Milan have lost only 4% of their matches without scoring, while Lecce have done so in 36%.
- In 35% of matches this season, Milan have scored in both halves.
- Milan thrashed Lecce 3:0 in their most recent head-to-head meeting.
- Lecce have not beaten Milan since 2006, a run of 16 consecutive matches.
Milan vs Lecce: match preview
Milan began the season under a new head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, who has managed to implement an effective and attractive style of football. They currently sit second in the table with 43 points after 20 matches. The Rossoneri trail the leaders by just three points and hold a three-point cushion over the team in third place. As a result, Milan are firmly in the Serie A title race. In their most recent outing, Milan secured a 3:1 away win over Como. Overall, their unbeaten run now stands at five matches.
Lecce are currently hovering just above the relegation zone and are locked in a direct battle for survival in Serie A. Last season they finished 17th in the table, and they now occupy the same position. The gap to 18th place is three points, suggesting that, as last season, Lecce face a difficult fight to stay up. They lost 0:1 to Inter in their last match, and their current winless streak stands at five matches, four of which have ended in defeat.
Probable line-ups
- 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
Prediction
Milan are, in my view, the clear favourites for this encounter, and I believe the Rossoneri have what it takes to claim victory. I am recommending a bet on Milan’s individual total over 1.5 goals.