UEL | Milan 0-2 Benfica: Nightmare start to Europa League
ITALY - SEPTEMBER 16: Goncalo Ramos of AC Milan reacts 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)
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.
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.
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 🔥
📺 Live on TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/vNL0I78Gby
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 16, 2026
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.
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.
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 64th to the 69th, save for an own goal against Venezia.
Lukebakio 16 (B), Kaminski 54 (B)
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 |
MIL
SLB
16
Goalkeeper
33
Defender
57'
5
Defender
31
Defender
30
Midfielder
73'
42
Midfielder
46'
20
Midfielder
46'
80
Midfielder
70
Attacker
57'
9
Attacker
21
Attacker
1
Goalkeeper
3
Defender
58
Defender
34
Defender
88'
44
Defender
8
Midfielder
70'
10
Midfielder
70'
13
Midfielder
80'
36
Midfielder
11
Attacker
22
Attacker
80'
23
Defender
46
Defender
8
Midfielder
14
Midfielder
2
Defender
73
Attacker
96
Goalkeeper
11
Attacker
46'
34
Defender
46'
56
Midfielder
57'
22
Attacker
57'
12
Midfielder
73'
2
Defender
27
Attacker
24
Goalkeeper
5
Midfielder
16
Midfielder
30
Midfielder
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