Milan lose three points and three players in the south

AC Milan had an impressive midweek victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League. However, today, they showed their ugly face of inconsistency. Despite going 2-0 ahead at the break, they conceded twice and were lucky to stay unbeaten at Via Del Mare in Lecce.

To make matters worse, Rafael Leao and Davide Calabria were injured, and Olivier Giroud got sent off late on after engaging in an X-rated exchange with the referee. What a terrible way to end what should have been a perfect week for the red-and-blacks.

The Portuguese star Leao sustained an unfortunate injury. It looked like a hamstring strain, but he'll have to undergo tests in the next couple of days and will probably have to withdraw from the national team until he's back to fitness. Captain Calabria also had to come off injured. It was a bad omen.

On the pitch, Stafano Pioli's team looked the part even without their most expensive footballer, although it only lasted for 45 minutes.

Veteran Giroud once again showed his goalscoring instinct by finishing well from a left-hand side cross from Theo Hernandez with 28 minutes on the clock.

Just seven minutes later, new boy Tijjani Reijnders entered the box and drilled a shot under the Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone. It all looked like winning will be easy in southern Italy - but they forgot there was another 45 minutes left.

Lecce coach Roberto D'Aversa pulled a desperate move with 63 minutes gone: he made a triple substitution. And what an inspired substitution it proved to be. Just seven minutes later, the scoreline read 2-2, with Sansone and Lameck Banda scoring in space of just four short minutes. Everything good Milan have done has been rendered useless.

Roberto Piccoli came close to sealing an incredible comeback not once but twice. He hit the post with a looping header with five minutes to go. And in added time, he hit an incredible goal from way out, beating Mike Maignan at the near post. Stadio Via Del Mare erupted with joy, but the celebrations were short-lived. VAR review spotted Piccoli's foul on Malick Thiaw in the buildup. The goal was denied.

Lecce, who started the season surprisingly well, are now winless since September - with no win in the last eight games, including the embarrassing Coppa Italia exit at home to Serie B side Parma. However, the point they snatched today will feel like a win, although many red-and-yellow fans will be disappointed their team hasn't been able to score a famous win over the great AC Milan.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 12

Friday

Genoa - Verona 1-0 (1-0)

/Dragušin 44/

Saturday

Lecce - Milan 2-2 (0-2)

/Sansone 66, Banda 70 - Giroud 28, Reijders 35/

20.00: (1.35) Juventus (4.90) Cagliari (9.50)

22.45: (2.60) Monza (3.20) Torino (3.05)

Sunday

14.30: (1.23) Napoli (6.50) Empoli (12.0)

17.00: (2.10) Fiorentina (3.50) Bologna (3.80)

17.00: (3.90) Udinese (3.50) Atalanta (2.05)

20.00: (2.90) Lazio (3.15) Roma (2.75)

22.45: (1.20) Inter (7.25) Frosinone (12.0)

***odds are subject to change