Opta: More central, more effective – numbers show how Allegri has created a ‘new Leao’

Rafael Leao will once again be asked to lead the line for AC Milan tonight against Torino, and the data shows his evolution.

Christian Pulisic is expected to miss the game against Torino at the Stadio Olimpico, or at most make the bench. That means that the attack will be on Leao’s shoulders again, given his probable partner Christopher Nkunku is really struggling to find form.

Rafa’s new role

Milan’s top scorer in Serie A is increasingly a centre-forward and less of a playmaker. Massimiliano Allegri is shaping the ‘new Leao’, who is increasingly central to the attacking play, more in finishing than in creating.

With five goals in his last seven Serie A games, the former Lille star is the player who has scored the most goals in this period. As confirmed by the numbers provided by Opta (via MilanPress), Leao is averaging 1.6 shots on target per 90 minutes, his highest number in a single season since his arrival in Italy.

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While his shots increase, the number of successful dribbles and chances created decreases. Over 90 minutes, he created 0.9 chances and 0.7 successful dribbles, and has never recorded such low numbers in his time at Milan. Leao is increasingly effective, and is moving more like a striker.

Since his Serie A debut (2019-20), Leao is the fourth player to have been involved in more than 100 goals (101, 60G+41A) in the top-flight with a single team after Berardi (115, Sassuolo), Immobile (125, Lazio) and Lautaro Martínez (139, Inter).

He is also the fourth player from abroad to have scored 60+ goals in Serie A with a single team after Lautaro Martínez (113, Inter), Victor Osimhen (65, Napoli) and Cristiano Ronaldo (60, Juventus).