Benfica edge Milan in League Stage opener
Benfica beat Milan 2:0 in the opening match of the UEFA Europa League League Stage on Tuesday evening at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The visitors moved into second place with three points after a disciplined performance that exposed Milan's vulnerabilities from the start.
And here's the thing — the opening goal came earlier than most would expect. D. Lukebakio found the net in the sixteenth minute, capitalising on a moment of space that Milan failed to close down. The home side had possession but couldn't string together anything meaningful in those early exchanges.
The second goal arrived in the fifty-third minute through J. Kaminski, who put the game beyond doubt. By then Milan were chasing shadows, their high line picked apart by Benfica's quick transitions. The visitors didn't travel to make up the numbers and showed it when it mattered.
Yellow cards accumulated on both sides, with Milan's S. Pavlovic and J. Duran among those cautioned. Eight substitutions were made in total across the ninety minutes, though none could shift the momentum back in Milan's favour.
To be fair, the statistics tell a familiar story. Milan held sixty percent possession and registered ten shots off target, but created zero big chances. Benfica managed just one big chance from their seven shots on target, yet converted it. The high line was picked apart when it counted.
For Milan, the result means they start the campaign with a loss and sit thirty-fourth on zero points. Benfica sit second with three points after their first game. The table goes out of the window in these games, but you cannot ignore a start like this.
