As it turns out Milan were able to win in the derby. Inter were beaten 2-1 contrary to unanimous predictions. Pulisic, Gabbia and Reijnders came out of the win with huge credit and the pseudo 4-4-2 employed by Fonseca looked lie a triumph. Abraham worked very hard further forward and Morata supported the English to good effect. Inter’s play was disrupted by the structure and positioning set up deeper into their half. Will this be a reset or restart for the early crisis? Time will tell. Facing Lecce, a much weaker team than Inter of course, presents different challenges not to mention a meeting with Bayer Leverkusen three days later.
It wouldn’t be Milan with injuries, minor or major. Morata is set to miss this match or at least start on the bench after picking up a knock. This opens a pot for Loftus-Cheek. It is hoped that this Englishman will start to fare better than his early season form. Emerson Royal, Tomori, Gabbia and Theo will form the back line in front of Maignan. Fofana and Reijnders the pivots. The aforementioned form should favor Loftus-Cheek further back but it seems Fonseca will use the number 8 closer to Lecce’s goal with Leao and Pulisic. Abraham has impressed and will be the center forward. Leo needs to be more involved, if there is one thing that will help Milan continue the form shown in the derby is a more involved Leao. Okafor is another with a minor in jury and won’t be available from the bench.
Luca Gotti’s men can push back Milan’s season into the doom and gloom of a week earlier. Nikola Krstovic is the Lupi’s danger man up front.