AC Milan are expected to welcome Rafael Leao back into the starting line-up for tonight’s game against Newcastle United, and their biggest threat will look to make up for lost time.
Leao has been out since the 2-2 draw against Lecce last month, a game in which he came off in the opening exchanges after feeling a problem with his hamstring, and it kept him out for multiple weeks.
With the winger back in the fold, the most decisive attacker in the squad returns. Leao was the man of the match during the only Champions League win the Rossoneri have managed so far this season, scoring a goal against PSG and causing havoc down the left flank.
Leão (54) is one of only three players to have completed 50+ take-ons in the UEFA Champions League since the start of last season, along with Vinícius Júnior and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Portuguese winger also has the best take-on success rate of any of those three players (55.7%).
Milan have only scored three goals in the Champions League, with no side scoring fewer through the opening five matchdays. They are the team with the biggest negative difference between their goals scored and expected goals this term (-4.9 – three goals from 7.9 xG). Leao can help fix that.
