Rafael Leao leads by example to give AC Milan victory over Verona

AC Milan bounced back from their derby debacle as Rafael Leao’s early goal secured a 1-0 win at home to Verona.

Seven days after their 5-1 humbling by city rivals Inter, Milan ground out a victory at San Siro which owed more to hard work than any real quality.

Captain-for-the day Leao struck after only eight minutes, scoring for the third league game running, as the hosts made it four wins from five at the start of the Serie A season.

Job done! #MilanVerona #SempreMilanBrought to you by @Acqua_Lete pic.twitter.com/hFFy1mwXHY

— AC Milan (@acmilan) September 23, 2023

Kick-off was delayed by 25 minutes following heavy rain, but Stefano Pioli’s men were quick out of the blocks when the action got under way.

Christian Pulisic, one of six changes from the team which drew 0-0 with Newcastle in the Champions League in midweek, won the ball on halfway and Olivier Giroud stabbed it forward for Leao to run on to.

The Portugal international was in acres of space between two exposed defenders and had time to power into the area, steady himself and slide a low finish into the far corner.

Milan struggled to get into their rhythm despite that fast start and failed to create anything more of note in the first half.

But Verona, who won their opening two games of the season, have never won a Serie A match against Milan at San Siro and, despite the odd sight of goal, did not look likely to end that run this time.

Milan goalkeeper Marco Sportiello, playing in place of the injured Mike Maignan, did well to keep out a Michael Folorunsho header after the on-loan midfielder had laid the ball off to Filippo Terracciano and then got on the end of his team-mate’s cross.

Sportiello saved comfortably from a Federico Bonazzoli volley at the start of the second half, while at the other end substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek went down in the area as he chased a through-ball, but play was waved on.

Pulisic then turned his man on the edge of the area and got a shot away, but Lorenzo Montipo in the Verona goal was equal to it.

Montipo kept his side in it again in the closing minutes, diving to his right to deny Yunus Musah after the United States international had been sent clear by Tijjani Reijnders.

The visitors did not threaten an unlikely equaliser, however, as Milan saw out the victory in relative comfort.