Benfica stun Milan 2-0 in nightmare Europa League opener

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.

Patience is key

Dodi Lukebakio gives Benfica the lead after just 15 minutes in Milan

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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)

16-09-2026 20:00

MatchDay 1

San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)

Milan

Benfica

0 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

Strahinja Pavlovic

11'

16'

Dodi Lukébakio (Assist: Jakub Kaminski)

26'

Souffian El Karouani

37'

Jhon Durán

2nd half

53'

Jakub Kaminski (Assist: Souffian El Karouani)

77'

Daniel Banjaqui

84'

Leandro Barreiro

90+2'

Vangelis Pavlidis

Match statistic

60

Possession %

40

17

Total shots

11

4

Shots on target

4

10

Shots off target

3

3

Blocked shots

4

10

Corners

1

Offsides

3

14

Fouls

12

Milan

Benfica

Starting lineups

16

Mike Maignan Goalkeeper

33

Davide Bartesaghi Defender

57'

5

Koni De Winter Defender

31

Strahinja Pavlovic Defender

30

Ardon Jashari Midfielder

73'

42

Filippo Terracciano Midfielder

46'

20

Omari Hutchinson Midfielder

46'

80

Yunus Musah Midfielder

70

Alphadjo Cissè Attacker

57'

9

Gonçalo Ramos Attacker

21

Samuel Chukwueze Attacker

1

Anatoliy Trubin Goalkeeper

3

Alessandro Circati Defender

58

Daniel Banjaqui Defender

34

Souffian El Karouani Defender

88'

44

Tomás Araújo Defender

8

Fredrik Aursnes Midfielder

70'

10

Georgiy Sudakov Midfielder

70'

13

Jakub Kaminski Midfielder

80'

36

João Palhinha Midfielder

11

Dodi Lukébakio Attacker

22

Jhon Durán Attacker

80'

Substitutes

23

Fikayo Tomori Defender

46

Matteo Gabbia Defender

8

Ruben Loftus-Cheek Midfielder

14

Luka Modric Midfielder

2

Pervis Estupiñán Defender

73

Francesco Camarda Attacker

96

Lorenzo Torriani Goalkeeper

11

Christian Pulisic Attacker

46'

34

Mario Gila Defender

46'

56

Alexis Saelemaekers Midfielder

57'

22

Diego Moreira Attacker

57'

12

Adrien Rabiot Midfielder

73'

2

Clément Lenglet Defender

27

Rafa Silva Attacker

24

Samuel Soares Goalkeeper

5

Enzo Barrenechea Midfielder

16

Manu Silva Midfielder

30

Claudio Echeverri Midfielder

72

Anísio Cabral Attacker

18

Leandro Barreiro Midfielder

70'

25

Gianluca Prestianni Attacker

70'

14

Vangelis Pavlidis Attacker

80'

21

Andreas Schjelderup Midfielder

80'

26

Samuel Dahl Midfielder

88'