Europa League: Benfica defeats Milan, Lyon beats Anderlecht

Portuguese side Benfica returned with a convincing and valuable 2-0 victory from Italian club Milan’s home ground, while French side Lyon overcame Belgian hosts Anderlecht 2-1 on Wednesday in the opening matchday of the consolidated group stage of the UEFA Europa League.

Belgian Dodi Lukebakio (16) and Polish Jakub Kamiński (53) scored for Benfica.

The win marks Benfica’s first-ever victory against Milan in their history. The two teams had previously met on six occasions, with the Italian side winning four times and drawing twice, including victories in the European Cup finals in 1963 (then known as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup) and 1990.

Ahead of their first meeting since 2007, Milan fans at the San Siro stadium gave a warm welcome to their former player Rui Costa, who is currently Benfica’s president.

Lukebakio opened the scoring brilliantly, receiving the ball on the right flank, driving into the box, and firing a powerful shot with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area, which nestled into the bottom right corner past French international goalkeeper Mike Maignan (16).

Milan’s left post denied Ukrainian Heorhiy Sudakov, who struck a right-footed shot from the edge of the box (24).

Kamiński added the second, finishing with his left foot from close range into the top corner from a cross by Moroccan Sofiane Alakouani from the right side (53).

French side Lyon also secured a valuable 2-1 win away at Belgian club Anderlecht.

Danish Noah Narthe (8) and Japanese Kito Nakamura (22) scored for Lyon, while Serbian Mihailo Cvijić (61) netted Anderlecht’s only goal.

In his first European competition appearance in 53 years, English club Sunderland defeated Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at their home ground, the Stadium of Light, thanks to a penalty goal from Frenchman Enzo Le Fée (66).

German club Bayer Leverkusen beat Slovenian side Celje 2-0.