Milan will look to continue their unbeaten streak in Serie A when they face Lecce at Via del Mare in game week 18. Milan played a 2-2 draw against the seventh-placed Roma side. Leece played to a 0-0 draw against the struggling Spezia side.

Milan will be keen to keep the pressure on second-placed Juventus, who are level on points with third-placed Milan. They remain in contention to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, Lecce currently sits 11th in the top-flight standings, ten points clear of the relegation zone, and 12 behind the European positions. They have scored 16 and conceded 18 goals in 17 matches played.

We now look at the stats for both teams compared to each other for the current season.

How have the teams performed?

The above viz shows the percentile rank of the home team in comparison to other Serie A teams. Lecce are having difficulty putting up numbers in the charts. We can observe that Lecce are ranked very low in all three departments (attacking, possession, and defence). Lecce are currently 11th in the Serie A table.

The above viz shows the percentile rank of the home team in comparison to other Serie A teams. Milan have had an incredible start to their Serie A campaign this season, currently sitting third in the table. The last season’s Serie A title winners are trying their best to give tough competition to the current league leaders, Napoli, who are seven points ahead of Milan after 17 Serie A games this season. Milan are currently heading towards European glory in terms of securing a spot that gives them a chance to compete in the UEFA Champions League. They have become a high goal-scoring team, and their percentile rank is high in the attacking department, having scored the third most goals in the current Serie A campaign. Milan are excellent regarding goals per 90 minutes and xG per 90. Milan dominates a few of the stats regarding possession and defence as well. In defence, they have been average this season, conceding 18 goals.

Attacking Efficiency

Lecce are the team that is ranked in the bottom half in terms of the efficiency of counterattacks, with 18% overall efficiency. In terms of efficiency in positional attacks, they are currently at 6% efficiency. Lecce averages 23.65 positional attacks and 2.59 counterattacks per match. They take 8.82 shots per match and have an accuracy rate of 32.7%.

Milan are the second-best ranked team in terms of the efficiency of counterattacks, with 28% overall efficiency. In terms of efficiency in positional attacks, they are currently at 11% efficiency. Milan averages 31.06 positional attacks and 3.29 counterattacks per match. They take 15.24 shots per match and have an accuracy rate of 34.7%.

Both teams in attack

Lecce are currently 15th in the 2022-23 Italian Serie A, with 19 points from 17 games played. They have won four matches, drawn seven, and lost six. They have scored 16 goals and conceded 18. We can observe from the above viz that the team has scored most of its goals from inside the box. Lecce have an xG per 90 of 0.9 and an average of 8.82 shots per 90.

Milan are currently third in the 2022-23 Italian Serie A, with 37 points from 17 games played. They have won 11 matches, drawn four, and lost two. They have scored 33 goals and conceded 18. We can observe from the above viz that the team has scored most of its goals from inside the box. The team has also scored a few goals from outside the box. Milan have a 1.94 xG per 90 and a 15.24 shot per 90 average. Milan leads the chart for big chances created this season, creating 53 in 17 Serie A games.

Numbers in defence

The above chart represents the ranking of teams in Serie A based on their percentage of defensive and aerial duel wins. It can be seen that Lecce are ranked fifth with a 57% win rate in defensive duels. Milan, however, are also equal at 57%. On average, the home team makes 46.59 interceptions versus 36.82 interceptions per 90 for Milan. Milan are the far superior team in the air, winning 54% of their aerial duels to Lecce’s 46%.

Key Players

Gabriel Strefezza is likely to lead the line for the home team. Strefezza has scored five goals in the current season of Serie A. Strefezza’s pace allows him to press the opponent’s defenders. He will look to take advantage of this in the match. Strefezza has provided five goal contributions in 15 Serie A appearances this season.

Rafael Leao has been the away team’s talisman this season, and he is expected to lead from the front. He has scored seven goals and provided five assists in the current season of Serie A. Leao likes to perform on the big stage. Rafael Leao’s pace, dribbling, and playmaking skills allow him to beat the opposition’s defence on pace. He will look to take advantage of this in the match. Leao has provided 12 goal contributions in 16 Serie A appearances this season and is currently joint-top for most goal contributions in the current Serie A campaign.

Team news

Most Lecce players are fully fit and expected to start with their first-choice line-up.

Milan will be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, and the attacking duo of Ante Rebic and Divock Origi, all of whom are struggling with injuries.

This might be Game Week 18’s most interesting match as two teams, one fighting for a top-four position and another fighting for a top-half finish in the Serie A, go head-to-head at Via del Mare. Lecce will have the home advantage, but it won’t be easy for them to beat Pioli’s Milan. Both teams will need a bit of magic in the attack and hope their attackers get on the scoresheet.

Visuals via TFA data viz engine