GdS: Leao continues search for first home league goal amid rollercoaster form and ankle issue | OneFootball

Rafael Leao continues to have a season with ups and downs, and today he is in search of his first home goal in Serie A this season.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) this morning, there remains a chance that Leao starts tonight’s game against Verona on the bench, given that he has been tormented by an ankle problem.

However, Sergio Conceiçao is also likely to think about the psychological aspect and is expected to start him, with the aim of allowing his compatriot to get a bit of consistency.

Ups and downs

Rafa recently played through the pain a bit, coming off the bench against Empoli and scoring the goal that broke the deadlock. He then started at De Kuip, where he definitely struggled to make an impact.

Beyond physical condition, Leao’s entire season is ‘a roller coaster ride’. There is his mark in what have so far been Milan’s two most exciting victories in 2024-25: against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and in the Supercoppa Italiana final.

Overall, the Portuguese has put together a haul of nine goals and six assists in 33 appearances across all competitions, but there is a rather remarkable stat within that: he has not scored at home in Serie A yet.

Tough choices

Conceiçao will relaunch Yunus Musah, absent in the first leg against Feyenoord due to suspension, but the logic of the rotation could also reward Filippo Terracciano and, who knows, one of Riccardo Sottil and Samuel Chukwueze.

The feeling is that the Portuguese coach’s final choices will only arrive today, after the finishing touches, when as usual the set piece situations will also be tested.

Meanwhile, there will be a first call-up for the recovered Warren Bondo who arrived during the January window, with Luka Jovic out due to a muscle strain.