Rafael Leão’s night at San Siro started brightly but ended far too soon. The Portuguese forward struck the opening goal for AC Milan against Bari in the Coppa Italia, only to leave the pitch minutes later with discomfort in his right calf.
The injury came as early as the 17th minute. Leão, who had just broken the deadlock, appeared to feel tightness and was quickly substituted. Santiago Giménez stepped in as his replacement.
The good news for Milan was that Leão walked off calmly, without needing medical support, raising hope that the issue may be precautionary. Still, medical tests are scheduled in the coming days to confirm the extent of the problem.
On the sidelines, assistant coach Marco Landucci managed the team, with Massimiliano Allegri serving a suspension. Despite the disruption, Milan pressed on with the game, but all eyes remained on their key attacker’s fitness.
For now, the club and fans alike will wait anxiously for clarity. Losing Leão for any length of time could be a setback, especially with crucial fixtures ahead in Serie A and Europe.