Milan Player Ratings vs Lecce: Pulisic Rescues Conceicao | OneFootball

Milan pulled off an incredible comeback to beat bottom-half Lecce 3-2 in a crucial Serie A fixture at Stadio Via del Mare. In doing so, last season’s runners-up probably saved Sergio Conceicao’s job while closing the gap on sixth-placed Bologna to three points.

Santiago Gimenez saw his first-minute goal disallowed for offside before Nikola Krstovic fired Lecce in front in the seventh minute. Milan thought they had found an equalizer when Matteo Gabbia hit the net, only for VAR to overturn his goal for another offside.

Things went from bad to worse for Milan at the beginning of the second half as Krstovic doubled Lecce’s lead. However, Conceicao’s side pulled one back only ten minutes later, as Antonino Gallo scored an unfortunate own goal to renew hope among the traveling supporters.

Christian Pulisic then drew a penalty and hammered the ball home to restore parity before latching onto Rafael Leao’s delightful cross to turn the game on its head. Without further ado, let’s look at our Milan ratings.

Milan (4-2-3-1)

Marco Sportiello – 5

There’s a feeling Mike Maignan’s deputy could’ve done better for Krstovic’s first. Two of Lecce’s three shots on target finished in the back of the net.

Kyle Walker – 6

Back from a minor injury, the star right-back held up his end of the bargain but nearly helped Lecce score another in the first half with a mistimed tackle.

Malick Thiaw – 6

His anticipation must improve, yet the German fared better defensively than Gabbia, proving invincible in the air.

Matteo Gabbia – 6

Unlucky to see his goal disallowed, but the Italian center-back gave Krstovic enough time and space to unleash a mid-range rocket and make it 1-0.

Theo Hernandez – 6.5

It wasn’t a vintage Theo performance, yet the French full-back looked more like his former self than in most matches since returning from Saudi Arabia.

Warren Bondo – 6.5

Despite showing glimpses of his potential on his Milan debut, the ex-Monza midfielder should’ve closed down Krstovic more quickly for Lecce’s second.

Yunus Musah – 6

Apart from his commendable work ethic, the USMNT midfielder had barely influenced proceedings as he desperately lacked composure on the ball.

Alejandro Jimenez – 5.5

Conceicao’s experiment with the young Spaniard on the wing instead of Leao was a total disaster. Didn’t do anything noteworthy before being taken off at halftime.

Tijjani Reijdners – 6.5

The Dutchman wasn’t on the scoreboard this evening, but he was Milan’s driving force in the midfield, pulling all the strings with pinpoint passing and superb vision.

Christian Pulisic – 8

Milan needed a hero to save the team in these troubled times, and Captain America answered the call. He drew and converted a penalty to draw the Rossoneri level before completing the turnaround with a routine finish.

Santiago Gimenez – 6.5

Had an early goal rightfully overturned for an offside position and nearly scored at the start of the second half, only for the near post to deny this close-range low effort.

Substitutes

Rafael Leao – 7.5

Joao Felix – 6.5