Following their derby delight last week, AC Milan seek a third straight Serie A win on Friday evening, when they welcome Lecce to San Siro.

Match preview

After six derby defeats in a row, Milan finally toppled Inter last Sunday at San Siro, with boyhood fan Matteo Gabbia proving the hero by heading home a late goal that secured a long-awaited 2-1 success.

The season's first Derby della Madonnina had arrived amid talk of a coaching change for the Rossoneri, who lost their Champions League opener at home to Liverpool in addition to making their worst Serie A start since 2018.

However, under-fire boss Paulo Fonseca made the bold decision to change formation for the derby and it ultimately paid off, with Christian Pulisic quickly putting Milan in front and Gabbia later netting the 89th-minute match-winner.

As a result of back-to-back league wins, Fonseca's side now occupy sixth place in the standings, with eight points from five games so far.

Ahead of a tough Champions League assignment in Leverkusen next week, Milan will aim to make it three from three in Serie A, as they meet one of their favourite opponents.

Pulisic struck first for the Rossoneri in a 3-0 win the last time they met Lecce, against whom they are unbeaten in 12 league matches, winning seven times in the process.

Indeed, Lecce are looking for their first win in top-flight meetings between the teams since April 2006, having been outscored 29-12 by their second-city counterparts since that last victory.

Current form does not suggest that might change on Friday, as Luca Gotti's side are searching for their first win anywhere since August, having crashed out of the Coppa Italia at home to second-tier opposition in midweek.

While Sassuolo can claim to be one of the strongest sides in Serie B this season, tamely losing 2-0 at Stadio Via del Mare further dented the confidence of a Lecce team that had just thrown two points away against Parma.

Goals from Patrick Dorgu and Nikola Krstovic had put the Salentini on course for victory last week, but conceding two stoppage-time strikes turned the game on its head, as their visitors somehow salvaged a draw.

It was a bitter blow for Gotti and co to absorb - as was going out of the cup - but they are at least unbeaten in three Serie A matches ahead of their daunting trip to San Siro.

Player injuries:

AC Milan

42 (Defender) Florenzi

57 (Goalkeeper) Sportiello

Lecce

11 (left winger) Sansone

77 (Central Midfielder) Mohamed Kabbah

16 (Central Midfielder) Joan Gonzalez

5 (Central Midfielder) Medon Berisha

possible starting lineup:

AC Milan :

Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao; Abraham

Lecce :

Falcone; Pelmard, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly; Dorgu, Rebic, Morente; Krstovic