GdS: ‘Capocannoniere and leader’ – Milan’s attack rests on Pulisic’s shoulders again

Christian Pulisic will once again be tasked with carrying the weight of AC Milan’s attack this afternoon against Hellas Verona.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, it seems like fate doesn’t want Pulisic and Rafael Leao to play together. When one is healthy the other is injured and vice versa, which is not ideal for Massimiliano Allegri given they are his first choice front two.

Always apart

The season so far hasn’t produced much of a demonstration of the duo’s performance, as they’ve become each other’s back-ups due to injuries. Leao and Pulisic have played together for only 135 minutes in 19 league matches.

Photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

They’ve started together only once in the league, in the derby against Inter, and the only goal was from Pulisic. They started together once in the Coppa Italia, against Bari, scoring one goal each. Then, it has been a constant passing of the baton of bad luck, a cursed pairing.

As a final example, the night against Torino, on December 8th: Rafa was forced off after half an hour with a muscle problem, while Christian – who was on the bench due to the feverish attack the day before – was brought on almost midway through the second half and scored a match-winning brace.

Leao hasn’t played since that day and will also be out today against Verona, as announced by the coach. Pulisic is indispensable, and not just due to a lack of competition. Despite only 10 appearances, including six starts, Pulisic is still second in Serie A’s top scorers with seven goals.

Only Lautaro is ahead of him, and he wants to catch the Argentine. The former Chelsea man has been precise in front of goal, with just 15 shots on target and only five off. In 559 league minutes, he has been involved in nine goals, including two assists.

Now Pulisic is the only one left with Christopher Nkunku, waiting for Niclas Füllkrug. Milan and Verona are 20 points apart: it will be a duel between the second-placed and 18th-placed teams. But Hellas, who have never won at San Siro in their history, aren’t far behind the Rossoneri in some key statistics.

Shots on target per game: 4.7 vs. 4.6. Corners: 4-3.8. Successful crosses: 3-2.4. Yet Milan have scored 11 more goals than Verona, despite having a game in hand: determination and precision in front of goal have made the difference.

Without the Portuguese, it’s once again up to Nkunku to emerge from the shadow. Füllkrug is already training with the group at Milanello; the Frenchman remembers him as an opponent in the race for the 2022-23 Bundesliga top scorer ranking.

It ended 16-16 in that case, but in league goals so far this season they are stuck at zero and zero. Something must change, or Milan will struggle.