Serie A Daily Report - 2026-09-20: Milan end difficult run with 3-0 Lecce victory

AC Milan beat Lecce 3-0 at San Siro on Sunday, 20 September 2026, to respond to a difficult run of results. Christian Pulisic opened the scoring in the 14th minute on his first start of the season, before Adrien Rabiot added a second and Diego Moreira completed the win. The result followed consecutive Serie A draws against Juventus and Lazio, as well as Wednesday’s 2-0 Europa League defeat by Benfica. Milan had also won only one home game since March, making the emphatic scoreline particularly welcome for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Pulisic’s goal was his first for Milan since December 2025 and ended a barren run in Serie A after 39 shots without scoring. The American, who had made two previous appearances from the bench this season, also helped create Rabiot’s goal with a back-heel flick. Moreira continued his excellent impact from the bench, with his third Serie A goal in only 127 minutes of league football. Amorim said Milan played with greater freedom and movement, while the victory offered a clear response to criticism of the team’s recent performances.

Juventus beat Atalanta 2-0 in Turin on Sunday, 20 September 2026, giving Luciano Spalletti’s side an important Serie A victory. Francisco Conceicao put Juventus ahead in the 28th minute before Gleison Bremer headed the second goal late in the match. Juventus produced a disciplined performance against Maurizio Sarri’s team, with the result lifting the Bianconeri up the table after four earlier league matches had brought two wins, one draw and one defeat. Atalanta, meanwhile, were beaten for the third consecutive time in Serie A.

Atalanta created opportunities to equalise, including one effort that required Randal Kolo Muani to make a goal-line clearance, but Juventus remained compact and limited the visitors’ threat. Sarri said his team had stayed in the contest until the second goal and had improved technically and tactically, but lacked courage, enthusiasm and initiative. He also called for the players to “light a fire in its soul”. The defeat underlined Atalanta’s difficulty adapting to Sarri’s methods, although the coach rejected the idea that the team was already in crisis.

Fiorentina drew 1-1 with Napoli at the Artemio Franchi on Sunday, 20 September 2026, preserving their unbeaten start under coach Paolo Vanoli. Billy Gilmour gave Napoli the lead in the 23rd minute with a volley after a corner, but Alex Jimenez equalised in the 51st minute. Fiorentina had threatened early, with Arthur Atta and Nicolo Fagioli seeing efforts diverted onto the bar. The point left Fiorentina 16th with four points, while Napoli moved to seven points in ninth place after five rounds.

Napoli had taken control of the scoreline, but Fiorentina responded after creating the clearer early openings. Jimenez’s equaliser prevented the hosts from suffering defeat and extended the positive beginning to Vanoli’s tenure. Napoli instead had to settle for a point from a match in which Gilmour’s composed finish had initially rewarded the visitors’ response to Fiorentina’s pressure. The result kept both sides in the middle and lower reaches of the early table, with neither able to convert the fixture into a decisive climb.

Frosinone beat Como 2-0 at the Stadio Benito Stirpe on Sunday, 20 September 2026, ending the visitors’ unbeaten start to the Serie A season. Giacomo Calò opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Romano Schmid pulled the ball back into the area, with the shot taking a deflection off Luis Milla. Giorgi Kvernadze added the second in the third minute of stoppage time after another Frosinone break involving Schmid. The victory gave Frosinone consecutive home wins in Serie A for the first time since 2023.

Como had three chances in the same early passage of play, but goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani saved from Anastasios Douvikas and Martin Baturina before pushing Lucas Da Cunha’s effort onto the post. Nico Paz then came close to an equaliser before half-time, yet Frosinone remained ahead and punished Como late. The result represented a sharp reversal for a Como side that had begun the campaign without defeat. Frosinone’s organisation and counter-attacking threat ultimately outweighed the visitors’ early pressure.

Lazio beat Venezia 2-0 away from home in Serie A on Saturday, 19 September 2026, extending their unbeaten start to five matches. Mattia Zaccagni broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, and Tijjani Noslin doubled the advantage nine minutes later. Venezia had missed an opportunity to lead when John Yeboah failed to convert a penalty in the 17th minute. The victory left Lazio with four wins and one draw, while Venezia had lost all five opening matches and remained at the bottom of the early standings.

The result strengthened Lazio’s position among the leading sides, with the club reported to be level on 13 points with Roma and Inter near the top of the table. Venezia’s failure to take the early penalty proved costly as the promoted side struggled to respond once Lazio moved ahead. Zaccagni’s finish gave the visitors the platform to control the second half, while Noslin’s quick follow-up settled the contest. Lazio’s unbeaten record contrasted starkly with Venezia’s immediate difficulties on their return to the top flight.

Roma drew 2-2 with Inter at home on Saturday, 19 September 2026, after surrendering a two-goal lead against the defending champions. Roma moved 2-0 ahead through two goals from Manu Koné, scored in the sixth and 37th minutes. Lautaro Martínez reduced the deficit immediately after half-time and completed Inter’s comeback with his second goal in the 79th minute. The result ended Roma’s perfect four-match start and denied Gian Piero Gasperini’s team a statement victory in a meeting viewed as an early test of their title credentials.

Roma had been praised for playing some of Serie A’s best football and appeared ready to strengthen that reputation against Inter. Instead, the draw left the hosts with a moral victory but also frustration at failing to protect their advantage. Inter’s response after the interval showed the champions’ ability to recover from a difficult position, with Martínez providing the decisive attacking contribution. The outcome kept both clubs near the top of the early standings, while making Roma’s next fixtures more significant after dropping points for the first time.