Lecce vs AC Milan prediction: ITALY: Serie A betting tips on match 2023-01-13 17:00.
A stunning 2-1 win over European-chasing Lazio last time marks some of the best top-flight form Lecce have ever experienced as they welcome Serie A (SA) juggernauts AC Milan. Their current five-game unbeaten league run (W3, D2) has seen them climb from the brink of the relegation zone to 11th place ahead of this round, which is as high as they’ve ever sat at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1999/00.
Fans might still be concerned about a potential return to some poor home form that has threatened to pull the rug from underneath Lecce’s survival bid. Only bottom-placed Cremonese and Sampdoria (both zero) have picked up less SA home wins than the Giallorossi’s two so far, though their recent purple patch means they could now win three consecutive SA home games for the first time since 2004!
That might make them troublesome hosts for Milan, who dropped a two-goal league lead after the 85th minute for the first time since 2009 in their last SA outing against Roma (2-2). Now sitting seven points adrift of league-leaders Napoli ahead of the round, and with an ever-growing injury list, Rossoneri captain Davide Calabria refused to panic instead stating that there will be “even more Forza Milan’’.
Difficult times have been exacerbated by a 1-0 defeat to Torino in the Coppa Italia last time out, marking the first time they have gone successive games without a win this campaign. Milan are unbeaten in their last eight H2H SA encounters (W5, D3) though, so manager Stefano Pioli won’t be expecting another shock here, particularly as his side have lost just one league away game all season (W4, D3).
Players to watch: Lorenzo Colombo says he won't celebrate if he scores against his parent club here, though fans might as Lecce are unbeaten in each of his goalscoring appearances this SA campaign (W2, D2). Milan’s Sandro Tonali will be hoping to offer something up top himself, having just secured goal contributions in successive SA games for the first time (G1, A1).
Hot stat: Lecce’s 6.3% SA win rate against Milan (W2, D11, L19) is the second-lowest of any opponent they have faced 10+ times.