The giants of Italian football AC Milan have been playing way below their reputation for over a decade, but recent revival gives hope to the Rossoneri fans that the future will be bright. One of the players who is the face of “new Milan” is Rafael Leao.It’s not easy to hit the ground running at a club as big as AC Milan. Leao has had a bumpy start but has recently shown why the club decided to pay $32.45 million to sign him from LOSC Lille in 2019. The 22-year-old Portugal international has got 11 goals and six assists in 29 appearances this season – and he wants those numbers to improve in tonight’s Derby della Madonnina in the Coppa Italia semi-final.Rafael Leao is the third Portuguese player to score 20 Serie A goals 🇵🇹81 – Cristiano Ronaldo42 – Rui Costa20 – Rafael Leao pic.twitter.com/Npv5nkug7s— GOAL (@goal) February 25, 2022 Although there are two years left on his current contract, there are talks underway for a new one. Leao has done enough to convince everyone at the club that he’s the one to keep.”I’m fine here, Milan is my home. I want to make history here, I want my name one day, maybe when I stop playing, to be put in the Rossoneri Museum.I have already started talking to my agents and we will see.”It’s going to be another test for everyone at the club when they clash with rivals Inter again. Less than a month ago, Olivier Giroud scored a spectacular double to overturn the deficit and give his team a valuable win the race for the Scudetto. This time around, there won’t be points at stake, but rather a place in the national cup final. ##EDITORS_CHOICE##Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli expects his players to show maturity and character as the season enters its final stretch.”Your head is the decisive factor. It allows you to stay composed and focused on what is happening in the game. We’ve reached a decisive stage of the season. From now until the end, we’ll learn our fate. A Derby always brings with it plenty of emotions. Tomorrow’s game is important in terms of reaching the final and also gaining confidence and enthusiasm with the league in mind.”The two rivals have squared off 230 times in competitive fixtures so far. Inter hold the upper hand with a narrow 84-78 lead in wins while the spoils have been shared 68 times in this fixture. Milan have been the better side in the Coppa Italia, recording 10 wins over their city rivals, who have emerged victorious on eight occasions. Seven games have ended in draws.Rafael Leão in 2022:10 Games 🏟6 Goals ⚽️ (Best u23 Europe T5 )3 Assists 🅰️2 Penalties won 💥29 Dribbles 💫 (Most in Europe T5) 14 Key Passes 🎯🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️ pic.twitter.com/OzlEUZAK1b— Karim (@Futball_Karim) February 25, 2022 Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not recover in time for this first-leg tie following an Achilles injury and is expected to mark his return to the pitch against Napoli this coming weekend. Ismael Bennacer served a one-game suspension in the Serie A fixture against Udinese and should start here. Sandro Tonali picked up the second yellow card of the campaign in the quarter-finals against Lazio and is suspended here.As for the Nerazzurri, the Derby comes too soon for Joaquin Correa while new signing Robin Gosens completed a full training session on Saturday and is in contention to start here, albeit from the bench.The stage has been set for the old rivals to clash again.COPPA ITALIA Semi-final, first legTuesday23.00: (3.35) Milan (3.40) Inter (2.30)Wednesday23.00: (3.30) Fiorentina (3.35) Juventus (2.35)***odds are subject to change
