A misstep for the Rossoneri at San Siro. Goals from Lukebakio and Kaminski decide the match.
Milan lost 2-0 to Benfica on the first matchday of the Europa League group stage. The match, played at the San Siro, saw the Portuguese side take the lead in the 16th minute through Dodi Lukebakio, who exploited soft marking from Bartesaghi to beat Mike Maignan with a left-footed shot from outside the box.
The second goal came in the 53rd minute from Jakub Kaminski, who capitalized on an assist from El Karouani and a defensive error from the Rossoneri to slot the ball past the goalkeeper with a first-time left-footed finish. Despite introducing Pulisic and Saelemaekers in the second half, Milan failed to get back into the game, squandering their best chances through De Winter and Pulisic himself.
The defeat forces the Rossoneri to bounce back immediately in their next match, scheduled for October 15th away to Salzburg. Benfica, on the other hand, have started their qualification campaign on the right foot.
The Europa League is the second continental club competition after the Champions League, organized by UEFA. Milan is participating after failing to qualify for the top European competition. The Milanese team, seven-time European champions in the Champions League, is approaching this season with the goal of returning as a continental contender after several years of inconsistent results.
The Europa League journey begins with a group stage: 32 teams divided into 8 groups compete in home and away matches, with the top two teams advancing to the playoffs for the round of 16. The defeat in the opening match against Benfica, one of the strongest teams in the group, represents a significant setback in the race for qualification.
The upcoming match against Salzburg therefore becomes crucial for Milan to avoid falling behind in the group standings. Coach Stefano Pioli will need to find solutions to improve the offensive effectiveness and defensive solidity that were shown to be lacking in this match.
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