UEL | Milan 0-2 Benfica: Nightmare start to Europa League

UEL | Milan 0-2 Benfica: Nightmare start to Europa League Milan had a nightmare start to the Europa League with a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica, as coach Ruben Amorim is already feeling the pressure over his decisions. The Rossoneri returned to Europe after back-to-back Serie A draws against Juventus and Lazio , but Amorim rotated giving Omari Hutchinson and Filippo Terracciano their first starts of the season, Davide Bartesaghi returning from injury, and a revamped midfield. Benfica had won seven in a row , but with FC Porto coming up on Sunday, they rotated nine of their starting XI including ex-Parma defender Alessandro Circati. The Portuguese side had never previously beaten Milan, losing four and drawing two, including the 1963 and 1990 European Cup Finals. See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog. ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: AC Milan coach Ruben Amorim looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Dodi Lukebakio fired an effort straight at Mike Maignan, but scored moments later with a similar move. He gathered down the right from Jakub Kaminski, cut inside chased by Bartesaghi and bent the left-foot finish into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area. ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Dodi Lukebakio of SL Benfica scores their team’s first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) It was nearly 0-2 on 24 minutes, as Ardon Jashari gave it away cheaply and Georgiy Sudakov drilled onto the base of the far post from the D. The first real Milan response came when Anatoliy Trubin flew to palm away the long-range Filippo Terracciano screamer, while Goncalo Ramos failed to connect with the Bartesaghi roll across. Jashari blasted just over from the edge of the box, but for the fifth time under Ruben Amorim, they failed to score in the first half. ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Jhon Duran of SL Benfica is pressured by Mario Gila of AC Milan during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Christian Pulisic and Mario Gila came on for the restart, but Koni De Winter horribly scuffed wide after good work from Alphadjo Cisse from eight yards. Instead, Benfica doubled their lead when El Karouani pulled back from the left for Kaminski to fire into the roof of the net relatively undisturbed from eight yards, having previously seen an attempt charged down. Yunus Musah also hit a fresh-air shot after Diego Moreira’s introduction, while Pulisic forced a save from Trubin at the near bottom corner on the Alexis Saelemaekers lay-off. ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Adrien Rabiot blasted just over, while Trubin got down to push the Pulisic snapshot round the base of the far post. The statistics are concerning, as all but one of Milan’s goals this season have come in a five-minute period from the 64 th to the 69 th , save for an own goal against Venezia. Milan 0-2 Benfica Lukebakio 16 (B), Kaminski 54 (B)