Overview
- Rafael Leao will miss Sunday’s match against Bologna due to lingering right‑calf discomfort from the August 17 Coppa Italia game against Bari.
- Recent checks indicate the lesion has healed but the muscle does not yet feel free, with daily assessments and little expectation he will even make the bench.
- The club is tentatively targeting the September 20 trip to Udine for a possible return, subject to progress.
- Christopher Nkunku’s condition is improving after his August 30 arrival from Chelsea, with limited minutes making him a likely option from the bench rather than a starter.
- With Leao unavailable, Santiago Gimenez is favored to lead the attack with Christian Pulisic in support, while Ruben Loftus‑Cheek is being considered as an emergency center‑forward alternative.