Lecce tries to change direction but Milan is a tall obstacle

Lecce will be looking for signs of recovery in their Coppa Italia match against AC Milan. The Giallorossi will take to the field tonight at 9:00 PM at San Siro in the round of 32 match (live on Italia 1), aiming to trip up Massimiliano Allegri's side.

An uneven match on paper, considering the teams' caliber, motivation, and current form. On one side, AC Milan appears to be in excellent form, fresh from three consecutive wins in Serie A, one of which was against Lecce on Matchday 2. On the other, Eusebio Di Francesco's team, who certainly aren't aiming for the Coppa Italia this season, must use tonight's match to boost their momentum after a difficult start to the season, marked by three straight defeats and just one point from four matches. These numbers are worrying, as are the performances of the Salento side, which have appeared rather lacking in this first half of the season.

It's reasonable to expect at least a reaction from Lecce, but who knows: in football, surprises are the order of the day and nothing should be taken for granted.

There will undoubtedly be some changes to Eusebio Di Francesco's starting eleven, although there are few indications. Falcone is a sure thing in goal, consistently among the best in these early league games, but beware of a possible rotation with Früchtl. The Coppa Italia could be a reward for the Giallorossi's second goalkeeper, as well as a chance to gauge his worth. Defensively, there will undoubtedly be some changes to the formation seen against Cagliari on Friday night. On the right, the battle between Kouassi and Veiga is recurring, with the former having a slight advantage, as his characteristics would allow him to provide more coverage. Tiago Gabriel, who scored his first goal for the Giallorossi against Cagliari, is a candidate for a return to the defensive line, while Siebert, who was on the bench in the last league game, is looking for a chance to revitalize his form. Another change is expected on the left, where Ndaba could make his starting debut, replacing Gallo, who has struggled in these early matches. There could also be a significant reshuffle in midfield. Tonight's match could be an opportunity to see Berisha back, having been unused in the last two league games. The Albanian midfielder, born in 2003, is itching for a starting spot, but it remains to be seen in which position: whether as a deep-lying playmaker in front of the defense or as a midfielder with license to attack. Kaba and Sala also have starting opportunities, but Di Francesco will have to consider which midfielder to deploy, also taking into account the team's balance. Up front, the coach will have to do without the suspended Banda, thus reducing the range of options on the flanks. A rotation compared to the Cagliari match cannot be ruled out, with Morente and N'Dri starting, and Pierotti, who started the last league game, ready to come on. Sottil, however, has not been called up.

At the center of the trident there could be a new opportunity for Camarda: the youngster born in 2008 is putting forward his candidacy to start at the center of the attack against "his" Milan, as already happened, moreover, also in the league match.