Milan is already showing its form for the Serie A top match, mercilessly defeating underdog Lecce 3-0 in the cup. Many more goals would have been possible, but the aluminum that often rang out that evening and the strong former Munich player Früchtl in the Apulian goal had something to say about that.
The most curious thing about this cup match between Milan and Lecce had already happened in the run-up to the game. Coach Massimiliano Allegri, who returned to AC in the summer and had watched the recent and very convincing 3-0 league win against Udinese Calcio from the stands due to a Serie A red card suspension, was now missing from the sidelines for the second home game in a row.
The reason this time: another red card suspension—but one from the past. With his former club Juventus, where Max Allegri had last worked until his dismissal in 2024, he had reached the Coppa Italia final against Atalanta Bergamo and won 1-0. During the game, the then Turin coach had let himself get carried away and lost his temper.
Gimenez breaks the spell
This time, however, there was no danger of Allegri’s pulse racing. Right from the start, the coach watched from the stands as his protégés put the pressure on, completely took control of the game, and created a veritable barrage of chances.
His counterpart, Eusebio di Francesco, whose team is at the bottom of the Serie A table after losing 2-1 to Cagliari, must have felt like he was in the wrong movie. Even though his keeper Früchtl made a strong save against Gimenez (2nd minute) and the former Munich and Nuremberg player also made a powerful save against Rabiot (9th minute). Lecce was also lucky when AC’s new signing Nkunku hit the post with a direct shot (9th minute).
In the 20th minute – after former Fortuna pro Siebert had been shown a straight red card for a foul on Nkunku and VAR intervention for a professional foul (18th minute) – the moment finally arrived: 19-year-old Bartesaghi found Gimenez, who had been largely ignored in the center, with a pinpoint cross, and he finished coolly.
Nkunku’s debut goal
However, the score remained 1-0 for a long time, which the Rossoneri were certainly criticized for by the coaching staff. They repeatedly missed excellent opportunities – Rabiot hit the crossbar (30′), Loftus-Cheek shot just wide to the left (42′), Pavlovic was denied by Früchtl (45′) and Loftus-Cheek failed to beat Früchtl, who saved with his leg and touched the post (47′).
After the third shot off the woodwork, however, the decisive moment in this one-sided Coppa Italia evening finally came: in the 51st minute, Saelemaekers crossed the ball to summer signing Nkunku, who scored with a spectacular side-foot shot to make it 2-0 – and celebrated by pulling out a balloon, as he used to do during his time at Leipzig. Pulisic, who was initially rested that evening along with veteran Modric (who did not come on as a substitute), then made it 3-0 for his team with a direct shot (64′). The truly convincing Früchtl prevented further goals with additional saves – and the Lombards’ fourth shot off the woodwork after a sharp cross from Pulisic (74′).
In the end, Milan advanced to the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia with a convincing performance and can now look forward to the Serie A top match against champions and leaders Napoli (Sunday, 8:45 p.m.). Lecce, who only posed a threat once in the entire game – Berisha’s free kick on Maignan (71st minute) – must first face Bologna at 6 p.m.