AC Milan kicked off their 2026-27 Europa League campaign on a disappointing note, suffering a 0-2 defeat to Benfica at San Siro on the early morning of September 17, 2026. The Rossoneri found themselves unable to cope with Benfica’s effective game strategy, which capitalized on Milan’s mistakes throughout the match.
Missed Opportunities and Benfica’s Resilience
Dodi Lukebakio opened the scoring for Benfica in the first half, followed by Jakub Kaminski who doubled the lead shortly after the break. Milan’s head coach, Ruben Amorim, expressed his concerns over how his side struggled to manage the game, citing frequent ball loss and nervousness when on possession as contributing factors to their downfall.
Benfica started the match with immediate pressure, showcasing the quick interplay between Lukebakio and Kaminski. Their combined efforts led to the first goal as Kaminski made a penetrating run before allowing Lukebakio the space to unleash a powerful shot from outside the box. Before halftime, Benfica nearly doubled their advantage when Georgiy Sudakov fired a low shot from distance that rattled the Milan post.
Just minutes into the second half, Benfica did find their second goal. Kaminski connected with Souffian El Karouani’s cross, delivering a well-placed shot that went beyond the reach of Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan. This unfortunate turn of events left the Rossoneri in a precarious position that they never seemed to recover from.
Analyzing the Team’s Performance and Future Prospects
Reflecting on the match, Amorim noted that Benfica maintained composure throughout, while his team struggled to establish their game plan. The situation became more dire after conceding right before halftime and early in the second half, leaving Milan frustrated. “This was a challenging match. Benfica is a very strong team. They played comfortably, while we never found our rhythm. Conceding goals at those crucial moments was damaging. We became anxious with the ball and lost it repeatedly. This outcome is tough to swallow,” he said in his post-match comments to UEFA.
Amorim stressed the importance of organization and adaptability for Milan in future games, acknowledging that while the defeat against Benfica cannot be undone, there are still opportunities for improvement as the season progresses. The coach emphasized that with every match, Milan must learn to better prepare and adjust to their opponents’ characteristics.
Midfielder Ardon Jashari echoed the sentiments of his coach, admitting that the team fell short of their potential both in attacking and defensive phases. He pointed out that the side was unable to create opportunities during the match, which they typically manage during training sessions. “We lacked certain elements, be it with ball possession or without it. If you are not at your best, you miss goals and end up conceding,” Jashari stated during his interview with Sky Sport.
Jashari called for collective accountability among the players, stressing the need for everyone to own up to the poor performance. He highlighted the ease with which the opposition read their attacking patterns, which in turn exposed weaknesses in their defensive setup and made it too simple for Benfica to exploit those gaps.
As the Rossoneri look ahead, the focus will be on rectifying these mistakes and regaining their form before the next encounter. This match against Benfica served as a wakeup call for a team that aspires to compete at the highest levels in European football. While the road ahead is daunting, it presents an opportunity for growth and learning.
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