AC Milan's first Serie A game has finally arrived. The Rossoneri will face Bologna tonight at the Dall'Ara stadium. Pioli will naturally aim for the three points. But, Thiago Motta's team is no walk in the park.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Leao will make his official debut wearing the shirt number 10. The Portuguese player will officially inherit a number that has left a mark in Rossoneri history on the backs of players like Rivera, Savicevic, Boban, and Seedorf. Rafa's goal is to create a new story with such an important number, his own story. To do so, he'll have to respond to all the big names of the league who, in the first matchday, didn't falter: Osimhen, Lautaro, Immobile, and Vlahovic all found the net. Tonight is Leao's moment: AC Milan won't rely solely on him, and the summer transfer market has also been busy in easing Rafa's technical responsibilities. Nevertheless, it's certainly expected that the Portuguese player can establish himself as a driving force and take another step of growth this season, starting from the Bologna match.
Tonight, AC Milan will be different compared to last season. Stefano Pioli will set up a 4-3-3 formation that will feature Rafael Leao on one side and Pulisic on the other flank while Chukwueze sits on the bench. However, defensive duties will also be present, and perhaps it's in this aspect that Leao can work during this season: more off-the-ball work to free up the Rossoneri horses even on the opposite flank when necessary. And then there's the matter of goals. Last year, Rafa further improved his scoring record, reaching 16 goals in the season. The goal now is to raise the bar even higher and aim for 20 goals in the league and a bit more throughout the season. Those goals will make the difference even more than dribbles and assists.
