AC Milan may not quite be in a title race, but they are the form team of Serie A. Milan’s comfortable 3-0 win over Lecce was their fifth in a row in the league and their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.
A fast start, with goals in the opening 20 minutes from Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud, allowed Milan to cruise through the game and keep one eye on their upcoming UEFA Europa League quarter-final against Roma.
Milan blew a 2-0 lead in the return fixture in November, with Lecce coming back to draw 2-2, but any hopes of a repeat were dashed when Nikola Krstrovic was given a straight red card on the stroke of half-time for a high challenge on Samuel Chukwueze.
The second half was a largely low-key affair, though there was a degree of controversy when Rafa Leao scored Milan’s third despite Pontus Almqvist being down with a potential head injury.
Milan’s victory moves them nine points clear of third-place Juventus, who host Fiorentina on Sunday. They are still 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan, who are closing in on another title, and it will take a miracle for Milan to win the league. Staying top of the form table – and continuing their winning run in the Europa League – is the best they can do.
More to follow