As La Gazzetta dello Sport writes today, the move Rafael Leao makes after three minutes against Atalanta is simply a masterpiece goal. And perhaps the Portuguese needed a goal like this to find his smile again in the Serie A.
A move where all his qualities emerge: speed, physical power, and class. But it was a goa that showcased Leao's will to get back on the scoresheet and to influence his team's result, as he has always been accustomed to doing and as he is also doing in this 2024, even if perhaps not with very frequent goals.
Meanwhile, with yesterday's goal, he scored the third fastest goal with Milan's jersey but above all he reached Rui Costa in the ranking of Portuguese scorers in Serie A: in second place with 42 goals.
It's a shame that Milan couldn't find the three points after such a performance. It's not just the goal but Leao's entire performance in the match against Atalanta that catches the eye.
The former Lille player was a constant threat to Atalanta's defence which only recourse was fouling (repeatedly). Signs of leadership for Leao who in the second half, after setting up Pulisic with a delightful pass who then wasted it, spurred on the San Siro crowd to push even harder.
It was a match for the Rossoneri star in which he wanted to show up and in which he also took responsibilities, from start to finish. It's no coincidence that he played the highest number of balls of his entire season, 86. And indeed, yesterday's was his best game of the season.
