Home » AC Milan vs. Benfica: Live updates and commentary from the Europa League clash
Liveblog Milan-Benfica 2026-27

AC Milan vs. Benfica: Live updates and commentary from the Europa League clash

So it begins: the Europa League adventure! AC Milan are hosting Portugal’s most successful club in the opening round, namely Benfica. Join us for the live commentary and updates from San Siro. 

Milan-Benfica: Our live commentary

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Defeat at San Siro


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FT
Milan 0-2 Benfica

First defeat of the season. A really poor first half followed by an okay, but far from great, second half. Strange defending ended up costing the Rossoneri tonight, and Amorim will have a lot to answer in the press conference later.

90'
Added time announced

Four minutes added on.

81'
Trubin saves

Pulisic with a nice shot on the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper gets down to save it.

73'
Final sub for Milan

On: Rabiot.

Off: Jashari.

62'
Pulisic shot saved

The American is denied by Trubin. Straight at the keeper, it has to be said, but a good pass from Saelemaekers and a decent shot anyway.

57'
Two more subs for Milan

On: Moreira, Saelemaekers.

Off: Bartesaghi, Cisse.

53'
Benfica double their lead

Absolutely horrendous defending from start to finish. Gila and De Winter sleeping on Kaminski, the goalscorer.

Milan 0-2 Benfica

50'
HUGE CHANCE

Fantastic chance for De Winter in the box, but his shot is not on target! Really poor one from him, but at least Milan did well there to create the chance.

47'
Chance wasted

Good cross to Bartesaghi at the back post from Chukwueze, but his attempt to square it with a header fails.

46'
Second half starts

We are back underway at San Siro. Let’s hope the substitutions have a positive impact.

Milan 0-1 Benfica

46'
Two changes for Milan

On: Gila, Pulisic.

Off: Terracciano, Hutchinson.

First halves remain difficult

HT
Milan 0-1 Benfica

Poor first half by Milan with very few proper chances created, if any now that I think about it. Benfica deservedly in the lead and could have scored more, hitting the post after that first goal as well.

Amorim said after the Lazio game that they cannot play just one half. Well, so far they have wasted one half…

45'
Added time announced

One minute added on.

41'
Shot off target

Good shot from Jashari there, but it’s not on target. Nice to see someone trying something though, instead of just passing it around.

39'
Penalty appeal

Pavlovic appealing for a penalty after chesting down the ball in the box, but there wasn’t enough in it. Good decision in the end by the referee.

27'
Saved by the keeper

Terracciano forces a really good save out of Trubin with a long-distance shot.

23'
Benfica hit the post

Sudakov hits the post after a giveaway from Milan. They got lucky there.

16'
Goal for Benfica

Lukebakio cuts inside and drives with the ball before firing a shot past Maignan. Not good enough from Bartesaghi there, who followed him all the way but couldn’t get him to stop.

Milan 0-1 Benfica

11'
Yellow card for Pavlovic

Deemed as a tactical foul there. Counter-attack stopped by the Serbian.

10'
Good chance

Hutchinson very nearly finds Chukwueze in the box, but the Benfica defender gets it away. Would have been a goal, surely.

4'
First shot

First proper shot comes from Benfica, Duran to be specific, but De Winter blocks the effort. Corner for the away side.

2'
Close call

It took one minute and 40 seconds for Terracciano to misjudge a long ball, and it nearly resulted in a 1v1 for Benfica.

1'
We have kick-off!

The first Europa League game of the season is underway at San Siro. Let’s see how Milan will fare with this starting eleven, which certainly included a few surprises.

Milan 0-0 Benfica

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Tags AC Milan Milan-Benfica

55 Comments

    1. Everybody except Amorim knew starting Terraciano was a mistake at the 0 minute mark.
      The guy is a guaranteed mistake per minute

    1. Bartesagni tracked him well. You can’t tackle so close to the box. It was Jashari who didn’t block. In fact he hide from the shot.

  1. Is Amorim trying to prove to everyone that his performance wit sporting was a fluke. If so then he is doing a great

  2. The difference in technical ability on the ball between the 2 teams is enormous.
    Also, Pavlovic should be banned from having the ball at his feet past the center of the pitch line.

  3. Why can’t we play free flowing non bullsh*t football like Benfica? Why does it always have to be complicated? Get the ball and counter as fast as possible. Why are coaches still forcing this bs non effective possession football ffs…

    1. Exactly. Every time there is an opening instead of going forward they pass back just too make sure they keep possession. No point in all of that possession when we do nothing with it. Waste of time.

    2. I agree but also think half of the problem in this game is Omari and Cisse, the game and threat in behind would look different with someone like Pulisic we already seen the game change completely after 45 min twice in a row. I believe neither of them are ready to be starters and should be rotated in and given opportunities at the right moment.

      Taccericano is abandoning his defensive line all the time as well creating vast holes in our right side, he needs to go he is not a CB imo.

    3. Agreed. I don’t care what statistics say. There is also fact: if you don’t advance, shoot, you can’t score. This analytics BA made players less skilled than they should be.

    4. Like what we played under Pioli, right?

      I don’t want to answer the question but just imagine… things are never that easy, “Why it’s not white and it’s black?”

  4. I keep thinking: Is this line up some kind of statement from Amorim? That he ignores what common sense says, that he does not want some players, that he doesn’t care about Europa?

  5. Not defending Amorim’s lineup decisions but at this point in both competitions Lecce is a more important game than Benfica.

    Assuming he’s planning to start Pulisic, Moreira, Rabiot, etc on Sunday I can see these choices.

    That said, these guys are playing like ass.

  6. I think it’s time to change the formation!!! I don’t think we will be worse playing 4231!!! It is time to give Comoto and Camarda chance to see what we have in them!!

    1. In this case you have to change the coach. Just like Allegri , Amorim doesn’t know anything else than this 3 central defenders system. Very limited tactical knowledge coach

      1. Is like this Amorim play bet…Toying with the heart of milan fans by gambling with your first match In Europe at home with one of the favorite team to win the tournament it is uncalled for..no wonder he failed woefully at man united

  7. Do we need to be 2 goal down before we start playing. Is that Amorims plan. It doesn’t make sense why he doesn’t start with his best 11.

  8. I don’t know which I hate most! The fact that we seem to have to be behind by at least 2 before we somehow get going only to play for a draw at best or a loss, or that these subpar performances are undoing over five decades of history and records set by legendary players and hard work. Today will be the first loss to Benfica in our illustrious history if nothing changes! These players these days talk about knowing how historic AC Milan is and bla bla but do they really care when they say these things or is it just camera friendly trope that they repeat so many times without internalizing what they are talking about! Sometimes I get the bitter tone legends like Billy Costacurta adopt in criticism post match. Its their work and records these damn clowns keep undoing without a second thought!

  9. Man, without Pavlovic, there wouldn’t be any point watching the game at all. Such an exciting player, who acts as an extra attacker out of nowhere.

    Love the guy.

    1. His problem is the complete abandonment of continuity! Even with the lecce game to consider, he could have started that 2nd half v lazio team with only Gila for say Tomori or Gabbia in the middle and started subbing off the main players at the 60th after they got a result. Now they played anyway and won’t be fresh but lightning doesn’t strike twice so they are in for a demoralizing loss this time. Benfica have handled us like the joke of a team we are today! I honestly am developing a dislike of this team at this point. Still a supporter, I just haven’t liked it for months now and won’t for a long time to come at this rate!

  10. After the subs against Lazio I gained hope. But again it was false hope. When I saw the starting 11, I somewhere hoped that there was a plan behind it. Amorim can go out guys, he is finished.

  11. So the first time this lineup plays together in a new formation and they are playing a well oiled machine in Benfica…someone actually expected us not to be outclassed badly?

    Growing pains. We are in for a few..get used to it.

  12. The variance in quality of players is too big (unlike Inter) to rotate continously as Amorim does. He should field his best and do minor rotations. Plus 75mil for Ramos was crazy and a huge risk for the club, prolonging the no 9 curse as it looks now.

  13. It’s not all bad. I see some really good things. Just make sure you never start with those bad players again and it will be fine.

    1. Milan defense is playing Allergies ball. Our midfield get exposed because the defense isn’t pushing forward. Gila can’t do it alone

  14. Amorim didn’t start with his best 11. How could he leave Rabiot, Moreira, Pulisic, Modric, and Gila on the bench? And how could he take Hutchinson off at half-time when he was the one trying the most out of the three forwards?
    Amorim is really strange. I’m already starting to dislike this guy..

  15. Well well well, this is just one game, but the signs are beginning to show . But Everyone should relax, we’re still in the ‘honeymoon’ phase with Amorim . His lack of depth will not be a problem for a while longer, we can relax . The man still goes to bed and wakes up thinking he’s still at Sporting

  16. Maignan
    Gila – Gabbia – Pavlovic
    Chukwueze – Musah – Rabbiot – Moreira
    Hutchinson – Pulisic
    Ramos(for the last time and encourage the attacking mids to play well enough with him)

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