Benfica Move Second After 2-0 Win at San Siro

Benfica beat AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday, September 16, securing a winning start to the UEFA Europa League league stage. The visitors led 1-0 at half-time after D. Lukebakio opened the scoring in the 16th minute, while J. Kaminski added a second eight minutes after the interval.

Benfica take early control

The first breakthrough came in the 16th minute. J. Kaminski supplied the assist for D. Lukebakio, who finished Benfica’s normal goal to put the visitors ahead. That advantage remained intact through half-time, leaving AC Milan needing a response after the break.

Benfica doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. S. El Karouani provided the assist for J. Kaminski, who scored the second normal goal. Kaminski therefore had a direct role in both goals, creating the opener before finding the net himself. The two-goal margin changed the shape of the contest, with Milan required to score twice to earn a result.

Milan changes fail to alter the score

AC Milan made two changes at half-time, with O. Hutchinson replacing C. Pulisic and F. Terracciano coming on for M. Gila. Further substitutions followed in the 57th minute, as A. Cisse replaced D. Moreira and D. Bartesaghi came on for A. Saelemaekers. Benfica later changed F. Aursnes for L. Barreiro and G. Sudakov for G. Prestianni in the 70th minute.

Those changes did not produce a Milan goal. Based on the event record, Benfica’s early opener and Kaminski’s second-half strike were the defining moments, and the final score stayed 2-0. Kaminski stood out most clearly in the match data through his goal and assist, while Lukebakio’s finish gave Benfica the platform for victory.

Discipline and league impact

The match produced six yellow cards. AC Milan’s S. Pavlovic was booked in the 11th minute. Benfica’s S. El Karouani and J. Duran were cautioned before half-time, followed after the break by D. Banjaqui in the 77th minute, L. Barreiro in the 84th and V. Pavlidis in the 90th. There were no recorded dismissals.

The result puts Benfica second in the League Round table with three points from one game and a plus-two goal difference. AC Milan are 34th with no points from one match and a minus-two goal difference. Milan’s most recent pre-match form was a loss, while Benfica arrived with six wins and one draw in their previous seven listed matches, despite a most recent loss. The 2-0 result extended that contrasting opening position in the league stage.