Milan 3-0 Lecce: Pulisic on target as Rossoneri cruise past 10-man visitors

Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, and Rafael Leao all scored as high-flying AC Milan defeated Lecce 3-0 at home in Serie A on Saturday, after the visitors were reduced to ten men minutes before halftime.

Stefano Pioli's team extended their winning streak to seven matches in all competitions, their longest since winning nine in a row under Carlo Ancelotti in 2006.

Milan are second in the standings with 68 points and will host AS Roma in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

They are nine points ahead of third-placed Juventus, who face Fiorentina at home on Sunday, and 11 behind Inter Milan, who travel to 14th-placed Udinese on Monday.

"This is part of the mentality of my group," Pioli told DAZN. "It wasn't always a brilliant season, for a period we gritted our teeth and felt this suffering inside."

"We want to do everything we can to continue this positive period, we're fine now and we have to be so motivated in every single game."

"We want to finish second in the league and go all the way in the Europa League, we have to work hard."

Pulisic gave Milan the lead in the sixth minute after Samuel Chukwueze broke into the box and crossed back to the American midfielder, who scored with a curling effort from the edge of the area that left Lecce keeper Wladimir Falcone with no chance.

Giroud doubled Milan's lead from close range after a corner in the 20th minute.

With his 13th league goal and seven games remaining in the season, the Frenchman has already matched his league scoring total from the previous season.

Lecce were reduced to ten men just before halftime after forward Nikola Krstovic was sent off for taking down Chukwueze.

Leao completed the rout for Milan in the 57th minute. The Portugal forward latched onto a long pass from midfielder Yacine Adli from their own half and fired a low shot past Falcone.

Leao, who scored and assisted in Milan's 2-1 victory over Fiorentina last weekend, has been directly involved in more goals (14) than any other Serie A player in 2024, with eight and six assists.

Lecce, who suffered their first loss under new manager Luca Gotti, are 13th with 29 points.

SportsLigue