AC Milan will know to LUNCHTIME whether Rafael Leao will be fit for their crucial Champions League semi-final clash with rivals Inter… with the winger doubtful after suffering a muscle injury in their win over Lazio at the weekend
- AC Milan will play in the first leg of the semi-final against rival Inter on Wednesday evening
- Rafael Leao is in doubt after suffering a muscle injury in their last match
- He was still on the training ground when his teammates arrived at the hotel yesterday
AC Milan will know by lunchtime if Rafael Leao will be fit for tonight’s Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
The Portuguese winger has endured a race against time to be fit for the first leg against their local rivals after suffering an injury over the weekend.
Leao was withdrawn with a muscle injury just 10 minutes into their 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was still out on the training ground in Milanello as the rest of AC Milan’s squad arrived at the team hotel on Tuesday morning.
Sky Sports Italy have reported that Leao was still on the training ground this morning, but could join the rest of the team this afternoon, and it will be known during lunch whether he will be fit enough to play.
Rafael Leao will find out before lunchtime on Wednesday evening if he is fit enough to take part in AC Milan’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan
The Portuguese winger was injured during the victory over Lazio on Saturday
Leao is counted among the best wingers in Serie A after scoring 13 goals in all competitions this season.
He played a key role in taking Milan to the semi-finals with a brilliant performance against Napoli, whom they defeated 2-1 in the final round.
“Leao will keep pushing tomorrow morning, if he feels good he will play,” manager Stefano Pioli told Sky Sports Italia on Tuesday. It’s all still open.’
He later added that if his star winger “can’t start, he won’t even go on the bench.”
Leao would be a big miss for Milan if he isn’t recovered before Wednesday, but Inter manager Simone Inzaghi claims he won’t change his approach based on one player’s fitness.
“We all know the qualities of the player,” he said. “We know he may or may not be there, obviously we’ll take some precautions, but in the end it won’t change our game plan.”
Leao would be a big miss after his incredible performance in helping AC Milan knock out Napoli
“I’m not sure like you (that Leao won’t be involved), I’ve said it before. We know him, we know his qualities, and in these games every player who is called up will give everything.’
Wednesday’s game is Milan’s first European derby since 2005 and a chance for the city’s red half to reach a first final since their win over Liverpool in 2007.
Inter won the Champions League in 2010 after beating Bayern Munich in the final, but have not played in the semi-finals since.