UEFA Europa League 2026/27 — Amorim’s Milan beaten by Benfica, Sunderland makes dream return

Here are all the results from the first round of fixtures of the UEFA Europa League 2026-27.

Updated : Sep 17, 2026 12:44 IST , Chennai - 4 MINS READ

Seven-time European champion Milan had won two and drawn two of its opening four Serie A games, but was given a reality check by Benfica on the opening day of the Europa League league phase. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

AC Milan slipped to its first defeat under Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 home loss to Benfica as the Europa League got under way on Wednesday, while Sunderland won on its return to Europe after a 53-year absence.

Seven-time European champion Milan had won two and drawn two of its opening four Serie A games, but was given a reality check by Benfica on the opening day of the Europa League league phase.

Milan was wasteful in front of goal and was made to pay by the visitor, who maintained its unbeaten start to the season.

“I change all the time, we need to start with a base, we have two months of work,” Amorim, who said before the game that he does not “know if I’ll have the time needed”, told Sky Sport Italia when asked if he would change tactics.

“We lost tonight, but we will find the solutions to adapt to these games, because we need to create an idea, but we also need to win, so of course we can adapt.”

Full time at San Siro. pic.twitter.com/5czAUnUbyP

— AC Milan (@acmilan) September 16, 2026

Benfica, who lost to Milan in the 1963 and 1990 European Cup finals, was able to enjoy its first-ever win over the Italian giant.

Marco Silva’s side grabbed a 16th-minute lead through a superb individual goal from Dodi Lukebakio, as the Belgian cut inside from the right and unleashed a left-footed drive into the far bottom corner.

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The Portuguese giant extended its advantage eight minutes after the interval when Jakub Kaminski slammed in Souffian El Karouani’s left-wing cross.

Sunderland back with a bang

Regis Le Bris’s Sunderland clinched a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar at a raucous Stadium of Light in its first European match since the Cup Winners’ Cup second round in 1973.

Sunderland was the stronger team in the first half but failed to convert its chances, with Enzo Le Fee going closest when he struck the post.

The Black Cats were awarded a penalty 20 minutes after the restart for Weslley Patati’s foul on Le Fee.

The Frenchman, who had a penalty saved by David Raya in Saturday’s Premier League loss to Arsenal, stepped up to slot the spot-kick into the corner.

A European victory 53 years later 😍💪 pic.twitter.com/qj9XABz81a

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) September 16, 2026

Sunderland was indebted to goalkeeper Robin Roefs when he made an excellent save to deny AZ attacker Valdemar Byskov an equaliser in the 81st minute.

“Now that we are here I’m just trying to enjoy every moment,” said Sunderland defender Trai Hume.

“We have a great team, great staff and unbelievable fans. We fully deserve this moment and we are going to keep pushing this season.”

Lyon put some of the disappointment of its dramatic Champions League play-off loss to Fenerbahce behind it with a 2-1 victory at Anderlecht.

The visitor quickly took control in Brussels as Noah Nartey put it in front after less than eight minutes.

Keito Nakamura’s deflected strike doubled the lead midway through the first half and gave the Japan winger his first Lyon goal since signing from Reims.

Anderlecht pulled one back through teenage striker Mihajlo Cvetkovic’s header after half-time, but Lyon held on under severe pressure.

Bayer Leverkusen saw off spirited Slovenian champions Celje 2-0 in Germany.

Leverkusen forged ahead when Celje midfielder Svit Seslar put through his own net in the 15th minute and Argentina international Facundo Medina made the points safe with 16 minutes remaining.

Elsewhere, Olympiacos came from behind to beat Poland’s Jagiellonia 2-1, while Sparta Prague brushed aside Ararat 4-1 in Armenia and Cypriots Omonia edged out Celta Vigo.