A brace from Rafael Leao, the great architect of AC Milan’s qualification for the Champions League semi-finals in Naples, gave the Rossoneri a precious success against Lecce (2-0) on Sunday during the 31st day of the Serie A. The Portuguese, with an authoritarian header from a cross from Sandro Tonali (40th) then a cross shot from the left after a breakthrough of which he has the secret (75th), allows the Milanese to start from forward in the league after two disappointing draws against Empoli (0-0) and Bologna (1-1).
The defending champions (5th) remain outside the qualifying zone for the next C1 but join AS Roma (4th) in terms of points, a week away from going to challenge José Mourinho’s team in the capital. The Giallorossi move by then Monday evening to Bergamo on the lands of Atalanta (7th). In the absence of Olivier Giroud, left to rest due to discomfort in the left calf after his decisive goal in Naples on Tuesday in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League (1-1), Leao therefore turned into providential goalscorer. The Portuguese (12 league goals) did not go far from the hat trick, but his stung ball was too strong (73rd).
In this match largely dominated by Milan, Mike Maignan had only one important save to make, on a strike from Gabriel Strefezza (70th). But the goalkeeper of the Blues was saved at the start of the meeting by his post, on a close range header from Lameck Banda which could have changed a lot of things (20th).