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2022/23 Italian Serie A
Matchday 31
AC Milan v US Lecce
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Milano, Italy
Sunday, 23 April 2023
Kick-off is at 18h00
AC Milan will battle it out with US Lecce in an
Italian Serie A match at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23.
Current Form
The Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw by Bologna FC away on April 15 as they extended their unbeaten run to three matches in the league.
Milan are also undefeated in their last four matches at home having recorded two successive draws and two consecutive wins at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
While Lecce were held to a 1-1 draw by UC Sampdoria at home on April 16 as they extended their winless run to seven matches in Serie A.
The Wolves are also winless in their last three matches on the road having registered three consecutive defeats as the visitors.
What Is At Stake
Milan are placed fourth on the league standings and the reigning Serie A champions are determined to secure a top four finish.
The 19-time Italian champions will cement their spot in the top four if they defeat Lecce with seven matches left.
They will be up against a Lecce side which is placed 16th on the log and a win over Milan would boost their ambitions of avoiding relegation.
Team News
Milan are likely to be without their veteran centre forward Zlatan Ibrahimović and Davide Calabria will be missing due to a suspension.
Meanwhile, Marin Pongracic is the only player on Lecce's injury-list at the moment and the club has no suspension worries.
Key Players
Rafael Leao is Milan's star forward having netted 10 goals and provided six assists in the Serie A this term, and the Portuguese star will pose a serious threat to Lecce.
While Gabriel Strefezza is the Lecce player to watch out for as the Brazilian winger has netted seven goals and provided two assists in the league.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Quotes
“The team worked hard, collaborated and tried everything to win, but unfortunately we were unable to do so and naturally that is disappointing. “I think both of them were penalties," Milan manager Stefano Pioli said after their draw with Bologna.
"With the handball, everyone in the stadium, all the players, everyone on the bench, we all got on our feet and saw that it was a penalty. The dynamics tell you it is a penalty, in all honesty. If VAR says no, the arm was close, but it really wasn't.
"It's a pity, the lads did everything to win the game, but we move on. We expected Bologna to be much more aggressive off the ball and to press us high, but this time they didn't, they sat much deeper," he continued.
"We created many situations, but lacked the final ball or the precision in the finish. To be honest, the only thing I really didn't like about the game was conceding that goal straight away, as we should've defended better from the kick-off."
Head-to-Head
Lecce held Milan to a 2-2 draw in their last meeting in the league which was on 14 January 2023 at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero - Via del mare.
The draw extended Rossoneri's unbeaten run to nine league matches against the Wolves having registered five wins and four draws.
Italian Serie A matchday 31 fixtures
Friday, April 21
19:45 - Hellas Verona v Bologna FC
Saturday, April 22
14:00 - US Salernitana v US Sassuolo
17:00 - SS Lazio v Torino FC
19:45 - UC Sampdoria v Spezia Calcio
Sunday, April 23
11:30 - Empoli FC v Inter Milan
14:00 - Udinese Calcio v US Cremonese
14:00 - AC Monza v ACF Fiorentina
17:00 - AC Milan v US Lecce
19:45 - Juventus FC v SSC Napoli
Monday, April 24
19:45 - Atalanta BC v AS Roma
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