Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring for Milan against Inter (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan start Alvaro Morata in support of Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao as they host Lecce, despite the Spain international’s fitness concerns.

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

The Rossoneri kick-started their campaign with a 2-1 victory in the Derby della Madonnina against bitter rivals Inter, which was their second straight Serie A win, albeit around a 3-1 Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

Coach Paulo Fonseca seems to have found the right tactical balance with Morata in the deeper role supporting Abraham, but the Spain international is not fully fit and will not be risked.

Instead, Loftus-Cheek comes in as a trequartista, flanked by Rafael Leao and Pulisic.

Davide Calabria, Noah Okafor, Ismael Bennacer, Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Sportiello are also injured.

Curiously, although it is the same starting XI that beat Inter, this time Rafael Leao is given the captain’s armband rather than Theo Hernandez.

Lecce are unbeaten in three rounds, including a 0-0 draw away to current surprise Serie A leaders Torino.

However, they were leading 2-0 against Parma last week at the 91st minute before an extraordinary capitulation to draw 2-2.

Frederic Guilbert was sent off in that game and is therefore suspended, with Nicola Sansone, Kevin Bonifazi, Medon Berisha, Joan Gonzalez and Mohamed Kaba out of action.

Nikola Krstovic is carrying a knock and missed several sitters against Parma, but still starts.

It is a return to San Siro for Ante Rebic, the former Milan player who joined Lecce as a free agent this summer.

The Rossoneri are unbeaten against Lecce since a 1-0 away result in April 2006 and the only home defeat was 2-1 in October 1997.

Milan vs. Lecce line-ups

Milan: Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Pulisic, Fofana, Reijnders, Leao; Morata, Abraham

Lecce: Falcone; Dorgu, Gaspar, Baschirotto, Gallo; Ramadani, Coulibaly, Pierret; Morente, Rebic; Krstovic

27-09-2024 19:45
MatchDay 6
MIL
MIL
LEC
LEC
Live
3 - 0

Player statistic

1st half
    34' Yellow card Federico Baschirotto
Álvaro Morata
(Assist: Theo Hernández)
Goal 38'    
Theo Hernández
(Assist: Rafael Leão)
Goal 41'    
Christian Pulisic Goal 43'    
MIL
LEC

Starting lineups

16
Goalkeeper
22
Defender
23
Defender
46
Defender
19
Defender
14
Midfielder
29
Midfielder
7
Attacker
11
10
Attacker
90
Attacker
30
Goalkeeper
25
Defender
4
Defender
13
Defender
75
Midfielder
29
Midfielder
20
Midfielder
3
Attacker
9
Attacker
7
Attacker

Substitutes

42
Midfielder
8
Midfielder
9
Attacker
31
21
Attacker
28
Defender
80
Midfielder
18
Midfielder
33
Defender
96
Goalkeeper
25
Goalkeeper
98
Goalkeeper
23
Attacker
32
Goalkeeper
8
Midfielder
1
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
36
Midfielder
22
Attacker
10
Attacker
Midfielder
50
27
Midfielder
19
Defender

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