Benfica have finally broken their long wait for a victory over AC Milan.
The Portuguese side defeated the Rossoneri 2-0 at San Siro on Thursday (September 17, 2026), in the early hours of WIB, on matchday one of the 2026/27 Europa League league phase.
The result was historic for Benfica. It marked their first official victory against AC Milan in seven meetings between the two clubs.
Dodi Lukebakio opened the scoring before Jakub Kaminski added a second after half-time. Benfica also had goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to thank after he produced an important save to deny Christian Pulisic and preserve the clean sheet.
For Benfica, the victory was about more than three points. It ended a six-match winless record against Milan and extended their winning run across all competitions to eight matches.
Benfica Finally Break Their AC Milan Hoodoo
The history between Benfica and AC Milan had previously been dominated by results that left the Portuguese club without a victory.
That changed at San Siro.
Benfica entered their seventh official meeting with Milan still searching for their first win. They eventually produced a disciplined and efficient performance to claim a 2-0 victory.
The result also gave Benfica an ideal start to their Europa League campaign.
Rather than allowing the occasion to overwhelm them, Marco Silva’s team played with confidence and made the most of the opportunities that came their way.
Their performance was particularly effective when attacking the spaces left by Milan.
Lukebakio Gives Benfica the Perfect Start
Benfica took the lead through Lukebakio during the first half.
The move began with Kaminski making a penetration into the area before supplying the ball to Lukebakio.
The forward then created space for himself outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot that found the net.
It was an example of Benfica’s approach throughout the match.
Instead of forcing attacks, they looked to exploit available space and move forward when opportunities appeared.
Benfica could even have entered half-time with a bigger advantage.
Georgiy Sudakov came close to scoring after releasing a low shot from distance, but the attempt struck the post.
Milan survived that moment, but Benfica remained in control of the key moments.
Kaminski Doubles Benfica’s Lead
After the break, Benfica found another opening in the Milan defence.
This time, Kaminski became the goalscorer.
Souffian El Karouani delivered a cross into the area, and Kaminski met the ball with a powerful finish to make it 2-0.
The goal put Benfica in a commanding position and placed greater pressure on Milan to find a response.
The Rossoneri attempted to change the game through their substitutes, but Benfica remained organised.
The visitors also had Trubin protecting their advantage.
Trubin Denies Pulisic
One of the most important moments of the second half came when Milan created an opportunity through Pulisic.
The American forward produced a shot that had the potential to make the closing stages much more competitive.
Trubin, however, reacted quickly.
The Benfica goalkeeper stretched fully to make an excellent save and prevent Milan from reducing the deficit.
That intervention proved important because a Milan goal could have changed the atmosphere of the match.
Instead, Benfica maintained their two-goal advantage and eventually secured a clean sheet.
Key factors behind Benfica’s victory included:
- Efficient finishing from Lukebakio and Kaminski.
- Quick use of space when attacking.
- Strong defensive organisation.
- Trubin’s crucial save against Pulisic.
- Mental resilience throughout the match.
- Effective counter-attacking play.
Marco Silva Calls It a Special Night
Benfica head coach Marco Silva described the victory as a special occasion for the club.
The result was particularly significant because it represented Benfica’s first official win over Milan.
“This is the first time Benfica have beaten Milan in an official match, and to give these three points to our supporters is truly incredible,” Silva said.
Despite celebrating the historic result, Silva also identified areas where Benfica could improve.
The coach wants his players to become better when defending higher up the pitch and make better decisions when they have possession.
That balance will be important if Benfica want to build on their impressive start.
Lukebakio Highlights Benfica’s Balance
Lukebakio also pointed to the balance within the team as an important reason behind the victory.
The forward believes Benfica were able to remain compact defensively while taking advantage of spaces when they moved forward.
That combination made it difficult for Milan to find consistent opportunities.
Benfica did not need to dominate every phase of the game to produce a result. Instead, they focused on being effective when opportunities appeared.
The performance also demonstrated their ability to stay organised when Milan attempted to increase the pressure.
Mental Strength Makes the Difference
Lukebakio believes Benfica’s mentality played an important role in the historic victory.
The forward described the result as a significant moment that the players wanted to dedicate to their supporters.
Kaminski shared a similar view of the occasion.
The Benfica winger regarded the victory as historic and highlighted the team’s defensive development and ability to use counter-attacks to trouble Milan.
Those qualities were clearly visible at San Siro.
Benfica remained disciplined, waited for opportunities and punished Milan when spaces became available.
Eight Straight Wins for Benfica
The victory over AC Milan also extended Benfica’s winning streak to eight matches in all competitions.
That makes the result even more significant for Silva’s team.
Benfica did not simply end their wait for a victory against Milan. They did so while continuing an impressive run of results.
The 2-0 scoreline also gives them three points to begin their Europa League campaign and provides further confidence after a strong start to the season.
For AC Milan, the defeat represents another disappointing result at San Siro.
For Benfica, meanwhile, it will be remembered as the night they finally achieved their first official victory over the Italian giants.
Benfica Leave San Siro With a Historic Result
Benfica’s 2-0 victory over AC Milan combined efficiency, defensive discipline and strong mentality.
Lukebakio and Kaminski supplied the goals, while Trubin provided a crucial contribution when Milan threatened to get back into the contest.
Marco Silva’s side now have an important three points from their opening Europa League fixture and an eight-match winning streak across all competitions.
Most importantly, Benfica have finally rewritten their record against AC Milan.
After six previous meetings without a victory, their seventh official encounter produced the breakthrough.
It was a historic night for Benfica—and one that their supporters will remember for a long time.
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