AC Milan v Lecce LIVE - Super sub Fullkrug nets first Rossoneri goal within minutes of coming on to claim vital win

Niclas Fullkrug made an instant impact off the bench as the on-loan West Ham striker scored his first Milan goal to seal a vital 1-0 win over Lecce.

The German headed home an inviting Alexis Salemaekers cross in the 76th minute, just three minutes after he had replaced Christian Pulisic with the Rossoneri in desperate need of an attacking spark.

Relegation-battling Lecce had successfully frustrated their illustrious hosts up to then, with Rafael Leao having a goal disallowed for offside in a drab first half before fantastic Wladimir Falcone saves kept Samuele Ricci and Pulisic at bay.

But there was little the goalkeeper could do to deny Fullkrug from six yards as the German opened his account for the Italian giants, who he joined from the Hammers on a six-month loan with the option to buy at the start of the January transfer window.

On a weekend where Milan’s main title rivals Inter and Napoli earned nervy 1-0 wins over Udinese and Sassuolo, Massimiliano Allegri’s side followed suit to stay second and restore a three-point gap to the league-leading Nerazzurri.

Allegri may have claimed that the club’s objective this season is "returning to the Champions League," but they haven’t lost in the league since the opening day and remain among the leading title contenders ahead of next Sunday’s huge clash with a Roma side sitting four points behind them in fourth.

A fourth consecutive defeat for Lecce saw them drop into the relegation zone on goal difference behind Fiorentina ahead of the visit of Lazio on Saturday.

That was Fullkrug's first league goal of 2025/26, having failed to score for West Ham in nine games before his mid-season move to Milan.

That win restores a three-point gap between Serie A leaders Inter (49pts) and Milan (46pts). Napoli and Roma sit on 43 and 42 points behind them respectively.

For Lecce, another defeat and another goalless night sees them slide into the relegation zone and Fiorentina finally climb out of it on goal difference. One point from five games has left them in a difficult situation.

Fullkrug is Milan's hero. The German striker needed just three minutes to score the winner after coming off the bench. His first Rossoneri goal isn't one he will forget in a hurry.

Not a vintage victory for Allegri's side, but one that keeps them right in the Scudetto mix and three points behind rivals Inter.

ALMOST TWO FOR MILAN!

Falcone comes to Lecce's rescue again, denying Nkunku from point-blank range by spreading his body. He should have scored.

They couldn't...could they?

No, they couldn't. Delivery headed clear, and Milan try to spring a counter-attack.

There will be four added minutes at San Siro.

Modric did not need long to show what he can do, producing an effortless-looking through ball off the outside of the boot to set Nkunku away, but Lecce manage to recover.

A solid home debut for the Swiss player. And not a bad substitute to have at this stage of a game.

A forward for a defender...

Fresh legs in midfield for Lecce.

As we mentioned ahead of kick-off, the side from Puglia are the league's lowest scorers with just 13 goals in 21 games this season.

It will take something extraordinary in these final 10 minutes or so for them to break down an Allegri-marshalled Milan side. Or so you would think...

The Belgian's assist has been all-important so far.

Here's how TNT Sports co-commentator Don Hutchinson saw the goal:

The super sub makes his mark! He has only been on for three minutes and the German finds his first goal for Milan.

Saelemaekers takes a long ball brilliantly on his chest before sending in another cross. This time there is a target in the middle as the on-loan West Ham man heads home from close range.

What a relief for Milan!

Saelemaekers lifts a cross to the back post for Rabiot, who nods it down to Loftus-Cheek, but the sub can't get his feet set and the chance goes begging.

Immediately a chance as Gabbia gets a head on a corner and it bounces dangerously in front of Fullkrug, but Falcone leaps off his line to punch the loose ball clear.

He takes the place of Ricci in midfield.