Match Overview
On a crisp September evening at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium, AC Milan demonstrated why they are one of Italy’s premier clubs, dispatching newly‑promoted Lecco 3-0 in the second round of the Coppa Italia. The Rossoneri pressed high from the first whistle, forcing Lecce to defend deep. Their efforts paid off in the 18th minute when defender J. Siebert saw red for a second‑bookable offense, reducing the visitors to ten men for the bulk of the encounter.
Just two minutes after the dismissal, Mexican forward Santiago Giménez pounced on a loose ball inside the box and slotted it past Fruchtl, giving Milan an early lead and setting the tempo for the rest of the match. The goal was a textbook example of capitalising on a numerical edge – a swift, one‑touch finish that left the Lecce back line scrambling.
After the half‑time break, the French attacker Christopher Nkunku doubled Milan’s advantage in the 51st minute. He collected a pass from Ruben Loftus‑Cheek on the right flank, cut inside, and curled a low shot into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. The goal underscored Milan’s fluid transition from defence to attack, a pattern that has defined their cup performances this season.
American winger Christian Pulisic capped the scoring spree in the 64th minute. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area, he dribbled past a defender before unleashing a powerful strike that rattled the cross‑bar and found the net. The trio of goals not only sealed the win but also highlighted Milan’s depth across the forward line.
Both managers stuck to their preferred line‑ups. Milan’s starting XI featured captain Mike Maignan in goal, a back line of Fikayo Tomori, Koni de Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic, a midfield trio of Loftus‑Cheek, Samuele Ricci and Adrien Rabiot, and an attacking unit led by Giménez, Nkunku and supported by Alexis Saelemaekers. Lecce, despite being a man down, lined up in a 4‑3‑3 formation, with Fruchtl guarding the net and a front three of Morente, Camarda and N'Dri trying to stretch Milan’s defence.
Implications and Looking Ahead
The victory propels Milan into the round of 16, where they will face a tougher opponent, likely one of the Serie A heavyweights. Coach Stefano Pioli praised his squad’s discipline, noting that the early red card forced Milan to stay sharp and avoid complacency. "We knew we had to be clinical," Pioli said in the post‑match interview. "The boys responded well to the challenge and kept the intensity up for the full 90 minutes."
Beyond the immediate result, the win offers a glimpse into Milan’s tactical flexibility. With Maignan commanding the box, Pioli can afford his full‑backs to push high, knowing the defence remains solid. The midfield’s blend of physicality (Loftus‑Cheek) and creativity (Rabiot) provides a balanced platform for quick counter‑attacks, a strategy that served them well against a ten‑men Lecce.
For the players who found the net, the performance bolsters their case for regular league starts. Giménez, having joined Milan last summer, now has three goals in his first cup appearances, while Nkunku’s continued adaptation to Italian football underlines his value as a versatile attacker. Pulisic, still recovering form after injuries, used the match to showcase his speed and finishing, adding a layer of optimism for his role in the upcoming Serie A fixtures.
Lecce, on the other hand, will regroup after a disappointing exit. Coach Giuseppe Iachini lamented the impact of the early dismissal, stressing that a more disciplined defensive approach could have kept them in the game longer. The loss also means they miss out on the financial boost and exposure that a deeper cup run offers.
Looking forward, Milan’s path in the Coppa Italia could become a pivotal part of their season narrative. A successful cup run often provides momentum for league campaigns, and Pioli appears keen to add another trophy to the club’s cabinet, echoing the successes of previous decades. As the Rossoneri prepare for their next challenge, fans will be watching closely to see if this commanding display against Lecce translates into further triumphs in the 2025‑26 season.
6 Comments
Ashley Hasselman
September 26, 2025 AT 08:09 AMWow, another 'clinical' win against a 10-man team. Real groundbreaking stuff. Next they'll tell us breathing air is an 'advanced tactical maneuver'.
Kelly Ellzey
September 27, 2025 AT 12:26 PMI just love how football is about so much more than goals... it's about the people, the passion, the way a team lifts each other up even when the odds are stacked. Giménez didn't just score-he reminded us that hope has a name, and it wears red and black. And Pulisic? He's not just a winger, he's a walking miracle after everything he's been through. We're lucky to witness this.
Zara Lawrence
September 27, 2025 AT 20:31 PMLet me ask you something... do you think the red card was *really* accidental? I've seen the replay 17 times. The ref’s boot was too close to the ball. Someone paid off the linesman. The whole cup is rigged to push Milan into the final so they can sell more merch. Why else would a 4th-tier ref give a second yellow for a shoulder bump? And why is no one talking about this?
ria ariyani
September 28, 2025 AT 07:53 AMI'm sorry but I need to call BS on this whole narrative. Nkunku didn't 'curl' it-he barely brushed it. And Pulisic's goal? The ball hit the crossbar and bounced off the *inside* of the post. That's not a goal, that's a fluke. Also, who let this guy write the match report? 'Fluid transition'? 'Tactical flexibility'? It was a 3-0 against a team down to 10. My cat could've scored.
Prakash.s Peter
September 29, 2025 AT 08:56 AMThe real story here is the structural imbalance in Serie A's cup allocation. Milan, a club with 18 European titles, receives disproportionate media oxygen while Lecce-despite being a mid-table club with minimal funding-represents the soul of Italian football. This isn't sport. It's capitalism with cleats. Also, Siebert’s red card was a classic case of referee overreach. The laws of the game are being weaponized.
maggie barnes
October 1, 2025 AT 00:38 AMThis is why you dont trust italian refs. They always favor the big clubs. And dont even get me started on how pulisic got 20 seconds to dribble like he was in a video game. Also, who even is this Nkunku guy? He looks like a guy who got lost on the way to a yoga class. And why is everyone pretending this was a 'dominant' performance? Lecce had 4 shots. FOUR. This is the best AC Milan can do? Pathetic.