Preview:Lecce vs AC Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

Keen to make amends for a calamitous start last week, AC Milan will seek their first Serie A win of the season when visiting Lecce on Friday evening.

While Milan's opening-day clash saw them beaten at home by promoted opponents, their hosts held out for a goalless draw in Genoa.

Match preview

On Serie A's first matchday, only Juventus attempted more shots than Milan's tally of 24, but the Rossoneri came away from their opening game empty-handed at a stunned San Siro.

Regional rivals Cremonese scored twice from three attempts on target - the second a superb strike by Federico Bonazzoli - while a powerful Strahinja Pavlovic header was all Milan had to show for their efforts at full time.

Last season, the Lombardy giants started without winning either of their first two league fixtures, so returning boss Max Allegri will want to avoid such a fate this term.

Intent on rebuilding both the club and his reputation, Allegri was brought back to add stability following a year of chaos, in which the Rossoneri only finished eighth in the final Serie A standings.

Amid a frantic summer in the transfer market, his side beat Bari in the Coppa Italia earlier this month, but contending for a top-four finish is Milan's main target.

So, having won their last three meetings with Lecce - and gone unbeaten in 14 - only victory will do at Via Del Mare.

When the teams most recently met, back in March, a late Christian Pulisic brace saved face for the visitors, who stole a 3-2 win.

Nikola Krstovic scored the Salentini's goals on that occasion, and he was so often their saviour en route to narrowly avoiding demotion for a third consecutive campaign.

However, the Montenegrin marksman recently left for Atalanta BC, so young Milan loanee Francesco Camarda led the line last weekend, as Lecce played out a 0-0 stalemate with Genoa.

Despite losing his main source of firepower, Eusebio Di Francesco - like Allegri, returning for his second spell in charge - has made a largely successful start so far.

Following back-to-back relegations with Frosinone and Venezia, the ex-Roma coach recently began his new role with a 2-1 cup win over Juve Stabia, but precedent suggests he will find it tough to stay undefeated on Friday.

Lecce have lost eight and won just one of 19 Serie A home games against Milan to date, with that sole victory dating back almost two decades.

Lecce Serie A form: D

Lecce form (all competitions): W D

AC Milan Serie A form: L

AC Milan form (all competitions): W L

Team News

As Rafael Leao is unlikely to feature for Milan, due to a calf injury he sustained soon after scoring against Bari, Allegri may pair Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic up front.

Including a brace on his last visit to Via del Mare, Pulisic has registered four league goals against Lecce, and his input could be needed again, with the Rossoneri currently short of strikers.

Frustrated in an attempt to sign Victor Boniface - and yet to confirm the arrival of Conrad Harder - Milan have seen Alvaro Morata, Luka Jovic, Noah Okafor and loanee Tammy Abraham leave this summer, while Samuel Chukwueze may soon depart.

Another Milan-owned forward, 17-year-old Francesco Camarda is set to start in attack for Lecce, who can welcome back Santiago Pierotti from suspension.

Only missing long-term absentees Gaby Jean and Filip Marchwinski, the hosts should otherwise have everyone available this weekend, though a move for Charleroi striker Nikola Stulic has come just too late.

Lecce possible starting lineup: Falcone; Veiga, Gabriel, Gaspar, Gallo; Coulibaly, Pierret, Berisha; Pierotti, Camarda, Morente

AC Milan possible starting lineup: Maignan; Tomori, De Winter, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Fofana, Estupinan; Pulisic, Gimenez