AC Milan moved back within three points of Serie A leaders Inter, after Niclas Fullkrug's first goal for the club sealed a 1-0 win over Lecce.

The West Ham loanee climbed off the bench to head a 76th-minute winner at San Siro, where the hosts finally earned their reward after dominating for long periods.

Milan twice went close in the space of a minute early on. Alexis Saelemaekers curled narrowly wide of the far post, while Matteo Gabbia sent a free header over from Adrien Rabiot's cross.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the ninth minute when Rafael Leao latched onto Saelemaekers' through-ball and neatly lifted over Wladimiro Falcone, only to be swiftly denied by the offside flag.

Falcone then came to Lecce's rescue in the second half, with smart saves to deny Samuele Ricci and Christian Pulisic.

However, Milan finally broke the deadlock and claimed all three points when, three minutes after coming on, Fullkrug nodded home from Saelemaekers' pinpoint cross.

Data Debrief: Fullkrug matches Bierhoff

In netting the winner, Fullkrug became the third German player to score for Milan in Serie A, after Oliver Bierhoff and Christian Ziege.

It came after a dominant display from Massimiliano Allegri's side, who recorded an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.6 from 20 shots on goal to their opponents' three, as well as enjoying 68.6% of possession.

Milan have now recorded five straight Serie A victories over Lecce for the first time since doing so between 1989 and 1993.

The Rossoneri are also unbeaten in their last 20 league games, last achieving that feat during the same season in 1992-93 under Fabio Capello.