AC Milan endured a sobering start to their continental campaign on September 16, 2026, slumping to a 2-0 defeat against Portuguese side Benfica at San Siro in their opening fixture of the Europa League. The Rossoneri struggled to impose their usual tactical rhythm on home soil, leaving supporters and technical staff searching for answers as the visitors executed a disciplined game plan.
Seeking to spark a toothless attacking display, Milan introduced Pulisic from the substitutes' bench during the contest. However, the United States international could not engineer the necessary breakthrough to pierce a resolute Benfica rear-guard that successfully neutralized Milan's forward line for the entirety of the ninety minutes.
This opening-night setback immediately piles pressure on Milan's continental ambitions, turning the remainder of the group phase into a demanding recovery mission. Slipping up at home in the Europa League leaves zero margin for error in subsequent fixtures, particularly with demanding away trips and high-calibre opponents still to navigate.
For Benfica, this statement victory in Milan establishes early momentum and tactical belief in the competition. Demonstrating defensive resilience and clinical efficiency away from Lisbon proves that the Portuguese outfit possesses the requisite maturity to navigate the tournament's treacherous early stages successfully.
Milan must quickly regroup on the training ground to rectify their offensive stagnation before domestic and European fixtures collide further. Meanwhile, Benfica returns to domestic duties buoyed by a landmark European triumph that sets an assertive tone for their European autumn.
