AC Milan secured their advancement to the next round of the Coppa Italia with a dominant 3-0 victory over Lecce at San Siro on Tuesday evening.
The match quickly turned into something akin to a training session. Milan relentlessly tested Lecce’s defense early on, and then Jamil Siebert was sent off after a VAR review confirmed he had fouled Christopher Nkunku as the last defender.
Santiago Gimenez finally scored his first goal of the season shortly after the red card, converting a nice cross from Davide Bartesaghi. Nkunku scored his inaugural goal as a Rossoneri player at the start of the second half, and Christian Pulisic capped off the scoring with his fifth of the 2025-26 season.
Marco Landucci stepped in as head coach while Massimiliano Allegri served yet another touchline suspension, maintaining his flawless record in that role. Milan will face Lazio in the Round of 16, but what insights did we gain from such a one-sided encounter?
1. Finding His Rhythm
Nküku earned his first start since joining Milan during the summer, and it proved to be a fruitful outing for him. Despite missing a few early chances, he redeemed himself with an acrobatic finish for his first goal in red and black. His lively presence contributed to Lecce’s reduced numbers on the field.
2. Finally Breaking the Drought
After a five-month goal drought, Gimenez managed to find the back of the net, which should boost his confidence after a shaky start to the season. While he missed a few significant opportunities, the importance of this goal cannot be overstated in alleviating the pressure he had been feeling.
3. Defense Holding Strong
After Lecce’s red card, Milan completely controlled the match, resulting in another clean sheet—four in a row. The stability of the back line, especially the performances of Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic, has been commendable. Koni De Winter replaced Matteo Gabbia and performed adequately, while Davide Bartesaghi provided a beautiful assist for Gimenez’s goal.
4. Mixed Bag in Midfield
Ruben Loftus-Cheek had an intriguing start to the season. Although he showcased physicality in previous matches, his passing and ball control were lacking. Against Lecce, he came close to scoring with a shot that was cleared off the line and another that hit the post. In contrast, Ricci struggled to leave an impact in the regista role despite the numerical advantage.
5. Emerging Talents
Zachary Athekame made an appearance in the second half, and although the match situation made it difficult to assess him fully, he displayed good pace and physicality. As a 20-year-old, his potential is evident. Similarly, 18-year-old Cheveyo Balentien showed flashes of speed and flair, although his final product needs improvement. These young players are worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.
