AC Milan are up against Lecce away from home and after three consecutive defeats

Struggling Lecce welcome AC Milan to the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero on Saturday for a Serie A clash. The Rossoneri are below their best at the moment but given their fine record against the hosts, should have the upper hand here.

There is a real threat of relegation looming for Lecce, who sit just three points above the relegation zone. They are on a four-match winless run, suffering successive 1-0 defeats to Udinese and Fiorentina in their last two Serie A fixtures.

A major concern for Lecce is their poor form at home where they are winless in their last five matches. Marco Giampaolo’s men often struggle against the big sides, losing 4-0 to Inter Milan while a 2-1 defeat to Lazio is also among their recent home results.

AC Milan head into this game off the back of a 2-1 league defeat to Lazio, Their third straight Serie A loss. They have also had some problems on their recent travels, losing five of their last six away matches across all competitions, cranking up the pressure on manager Sergio Conceicao.

Despite their struggles on the road, AC Milan have claimed some solid results away from home in the league, beating Inter Milan 2-1 and claiming a similar victory over fast rising Como. However, one problem that persists for Conceicao’s men is their shaky backline having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three matches, all of which have produced over 2.5 goals.

It has been a tough season for the Rossoneri fans, but the last few weeks have been a new low. As a result of three consecutive defeats, the team is in 9th place and could miss out on European football entirely, which says everything.

Speaking at the press conference earlier today, Sergio Conceicao highlighted that it’s been a very good week of training at Milanello. Given the extra time, he has finally been able to work on some important tactics, which perhaps will make a difference.

Conceicao has been able to work with the players for a full week for the first time, more or less, and he sounded very positive about the outcome during the presser. Alessandro Florenzi, who had been absent since July last year due to an ACL tear, has even returned to training.

On the other hand, Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains on the injury list while the likes of Mike Maignan and Strahinja Pavlovic will be suspended. Yunus Musah is the only player at risk of receiving a suspension, one yellow card away.

There have been different reports on the starting eleven for this game, seeing as Conceicao is expected to make quite a few changes. It might not be the maxi-rotation that some thought initially, though, as Theo Hernandez looks set to keep his starting spot on the left.

Malick Thiaw will replace the suspended Pavlovic, teaming up with Matteo Gabbia, while Kyle Walker has fully recovered and thus will start on the left. In midfield, Warren Bondo looks set to get his debut for the club and rather than Youssouf Fofana, he should team up with Yunus Musah in the tandem.

Predicted Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Sportiello; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo; Bondo, Musah; Jimenez, Reijnders, Pulisic; Abraham/Gimenez.