Milan to Face Benfica in Europa League

Two historic European rivals meet at the San Siro stadium in the first round of the new league phase of the UEFA Europa League, as Italian side Milan seeks to extend its historic unbeaten record against Portuguese club Benfica. The two teams have faced each other six times in European competition, with Milan remaining undefeated in all those encounters (four wins and two draws), including victories in the European Cup final in 1963 (then known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup) and 1990. However, this will be their first meeting since 2007.

Milan bounced back from a two-goal first-half deficit to draw 2-2 with Lazio last weekend, a result that preserved their unbeaten start in the Italian league this season (two wins and two draws) before returning to European competition after a one-year absence. The club will participate in the Europa League instead of the Champions League, which they have won seven times, following a dramatic final round of last season’s domestic campaign.

Their new Portuguese manager, Ruben Amorim, brings extensive experience in the competition, having guided Sporting to the quarter-finals in the 2023-2024 season and then Manchester United to the final in 2024-2025. Starting their campaign at home could provide an ideal platform for Amorim’s title pursuit with a positive result, particularly as Milan has not lost in their last four European home matches at the San Siro (three wins and one draw).

For their part, Benfica defeated Gil Vicente 3-1 last weekend, securing their seventh consecutive victory across all competitions. Having begun their campaign in the second qualifying round, Marco Silva’s side has secured their place in the new league-phase format of the Europa League.

In another match, Sunderland plays their first European game at the Stadium of Light today against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, marking the club’s first continental appearance in 53 years. This fixture represents a new milestone in the extraordinary recovery of a club that spent decades in a downward spiral. Just over four years ago, the “Black Cats” were languishing in League One, the third tier of English football. However, the team was promoted to the Championship in 2022 and returned to the Premier League via the playoffs in May 2025, before surprising many by finishing seventh in their first season back in the top flight.

In other key matches, Belgian club Anderlecht faces French side Lyon, while German champions Bayer Leverkusen take on Slovenian team Celje. Meanwhile, French league leaders Rennes travel to face Austrian side Sturm Graz.