This evening, at 9:00 PM CET, Milan will face Red Star at 'San Siro' in the 6th matchday of the Champions League 2024-2025 Group Stage, and Rafael Leao, in the absence of the injured Christian Pulisic, is called upon to shine at home for the Rossoneri under Paulo Fonseca.
After all, he has something to "make up for."
Leao, in fact, hasn’t scored in the Champions League at 'San Siro' for over a year: November 7, 2023, Milan-PSG 2-1, when he scored a stunning bicycle kick and delivered an exceptional performance, both in attack and defence.
Fonseca's Milan hopes that Leao can do the same tonight against Red Star Belgrade.
With another three points, Milan would reach 12, nearly securing a place in the Champions League knockout stages. If they also win against Girona (at home) and Dinamo Zagreb (away) in January 2025, the dream of direct qualification to the round of 16 would become a reality.
He has never scored more than one goal per season in the Champions League.
In tonight's Milan-Red Star match, Leao is expected to be the technical leader: all the key attacking plays, necessarily, without the finesse of 'Captain America,' will pass through Rafa. The fans expect him to be a standout, to score an important goal, and to lead the team toward its European goal.
There’s also another 'record' to break: Leao has never scored more than one goal in a Champions League season with Milan.
The next goal, if and when it comes, could replicate the one he scored recently against Slovan Bratislava and become his second of this current tournament.
He scored one in the 2021-2022 season against Atlético Madrid, another the following year against Dinamo Zagreb. Then, the goals already mentioned against PSG and Slovan.
Source: PianetaMilan.it
