Lecce 2-2 AC Milan: Rossoneri fight back from two down but drop vital points in Serie A title race

AC Milan recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit to salvage a draw at Lecce, a result which sees Napoli’s lead at the top stand at nine points.

The reigning champions began extremely sluggishly and were punished after three minutes when Fikayo Tomori’s error gifted Federico Di Francesco the opportunity to put a ball into the area which Theo Hernandez turned into his own net.

The lead was doubled after 23 minutes when Federico Baschirotto was left free in the box to head home Morten Hjulmand’s cross and this advantage was the least the hosts deserved going into the break.

As expected Milan improved after the breka and Rafael Leao snuck in a powerful shot inside Wladimiro Falcone’s near post 11 minutes after the break, before skipper Davide Calabria headed home an equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.

The result leaves Milan a point clear of Juventus in third position, but a long way back from the Serie A leaders.

TALKING POINT

Should we crown Napoli now? – It is not the double figures it looked like being at half time in this game, but nine points (and a 15-goal difference advantage) remains a massive lead for the Neopolitan side. Their 5-1 victory over Juventus is a result which would have sent shockwaves through the other pretenders for the Scudetto and Milan looked affected by this in the first half. In fairness, Milan showed the resilience one might expect from a reigning champion in the second half but hindered by injuries and form they do not look like a side capable of going on a long winning run. Napoli might be expected to wobble if challenged in the closing stages, as they look for their first title in 33 years, but it does not look like anyone will get close enough to put on the pressure to worry Luciano Spalletti’s side.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Morten Hjulmand (Lecce) – A fine performance from the 23-year-old Danish midfielder who must surely be in contention for a first cap for his country. Judging by this performance the coach, his father Kasper Hjulmand, has shown extreme anti-nepotism by leaving him out of the line-up until now. He controlled much of the game and was a key figure at both ends. In the first half he crossed for the second Lecce goal and after the break he was often found in his own box quelling Milan attacks.

PLAYER RATINGS

Lecce: Falcone 6; Gendrey 6, Baschirotto 8, Umtiti 7, Pezzella 6; Hjulmand 8*, Joan Gonzalez 6, Blin 6; Gabriel Strefezza 7, Di Francesco 6, Colombo 6.

Subs: Gallo 7, Maleh 6, Banda 6, Persson 6, Oudin 6.

Milan: Tatarusanu 6; Calabria 7, Kalulu 5, Tomori 6, Theo Hernandez 5; Bennacer 6, Pobega 6; Saelemaekers 5, Brahim Diaz 6, Rafael Leao 7; Giroud 7.

Subs: Dest 6, Messias 6, Origi 6, Kjaer 6, Vranckx 6.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

3′ GOAL FOR LECCE! What a start for the hosts, after a mistake by Tomori, Di Francesco put the ball into the area and it was inadvertently put into his own net by Hernandez.

23′ GOAL FOR LECCE! With no Milan defender in sight, Baschirotto heads home Hjulmand’s cross giving Tatarusanu no chance.

58′ GOAL FOR MILAN! Falcone made a stop diving to his left to deny Giroud but Lecce couldn’t clear and the keeper left too much room at his near post and Leao from the left hand side of the area curled the ball inside the keeper’s despairing dive.

70′ GOAL FOR MILAN! Calabria heads home from close range after Giroud nodded square a deep cross from Pogeba into the box from the left flank.

80′ MESSIAS HITS THE POST! He was in an offside position anyway but he wasn’t too know that and he beat Falcone with his effort but was not quite accruate enough. Boschirotto did a superb job to clear Giroud’s follow-up effort off the line.

KEY STATS

• 6 – Lecce are now unbeaten in six games in Serie A. Their best run in the top flight since 2012.

• 100 – It was Brahim Diaz’s 100th game for Milan. Not one he will remember fondly.