Milan, Rafael Leao: Stefano Pioli opts for the cautious solution
Rafael Leao remains in training ahead of Newcastle
AC Milan will not risk the employment of Rafael Leao in Saturday afternoon’s match against Atalanta (to be played at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, kickoff at 6 p.m.): in fact, Stefano Pioli, the Rossoneri’s coach, has decided to exclude the Portuguese player from the squad, thus giving him a few more days to train after returning from the muscle injury that has kept him away from the field in the last month.
The goal è is clear, to find Leao back to top form, or at least very close to 100 percent for the decisive Champions League challenge d Wednesdayì Dec. 13 against Newcastle at St. James' Park: a difficult challenge in which even a success may not be enough, since for qualification to the round of 16 Milan not only have to beat the Magpies but must hope that Borussia Dortmund already qualified beats PSG in turn.
Leao was è injured last Nov. 11 in the Via del Mare match against Lecce: the Portuguese’s game had lasted just 10 minutes, before after a shot in depth; the footballer had felt a pull, stopping and calling for a substitution (Noah Okafor would later take his place.
The one against Atalanta è an important challenge, however, for Milan, which comes from two consecutive league victories, against Fiorentina and Frosinone, and does not want to lose the train of the first two places, with Inter currently at +6 and Juventus at +4 over the Rossoneri. Despite the premises, however, the club's assessment è is clear: priority to Champions, at least as far as Leao's recovery is concerned.
