Lecce got off to an incredible start, taking the lead inside three minutes as a cross into the box was inadvertently put into the back of the net by Theo Hernandez.
The home side did not try and sit back to protect their lead though and were relentless in creating wave after wave of attacks.
They deservedly doubled their lead over the stunned champions midway through the half, after a short corner was played to Morten Hjulmand, who floated a cross into the box which was met by a powerful header from Federico Baschirotto into the net.
It wasn’t until late on in the half that Milan created a significant chance, as Olivier Giroud used his aerial ability to try and nod the ball in, only for Wladimiro Falcone to save it and cap off a brilliant opening 45 minutes for Lecce.
In response, Stefano Pioli made a double-change at the beginning of the second half, and whilst the visitors certainly looked a much better team in the second period, they struggled in the final third.
But the visitors’ new-found dominance in possession finally bore fruit around the hour mark, thanks to a moment of individual brilliance from Rafael Leao, who fired the ball in at the near post from a tight angle.
The deficit now halved, Milan suddenly looked like they had a title to defend, and captain Davide Calabria restored parity with 20 minutes to go, nodding the ball in after being teed up superbly by Giroud, with the goal surviving a VAR review for offside.
The equaliser sucked the life out of Lecce’s increasingly-leggy players, and it seemed like there would only be one winner in the closing minutes. Junior Messias almost completed the comeback but was denied by the woodwork when played through on goal.
Despite tiring in the final 20 minutes, the Giallorossi managed to hold on for a well-deserved point following their breathtaking first-half performance. The draw leaves them in 12th place, whilst Milan remain second, just a point better off than Juventus.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Davide Calabria (AC Milan)
