Milan 0-2 Benfica: San Siro stunned on European opener

Ruben Amorim's Milan start their European campaign uphill: at San Siro, on the first matchday of the Europa League league phase, Marco Silva's Benfica win 0-2. A home defeat on the opening night that matters and leaves the Rossoneri chasing from the start.

The deadlock breaks early. On 16' Dodi Lukebakio makes it 0-1 from Jakub Kamiński's assist, and that is how the first half ends. Early in the second half, on 53', Kamiński himself doubles the lead, set up by Souffian El Karouani. From then on Milan attack, but the score does not move. Referee Jarred Gillett books six players: Strahinja Pavlović for Milan, El Karouani, Jhon Durán, Daniel Banjaqui, Leandro Barreiro and Vangelis Pavlidis for Benfica.

The numbers tell a story of sterile control. Milan had 61% possession, 92% passing accuracy, 16 shots to 11 and 9 corners to just one. But shots on target were 4 apiece, and expected goals read 0.96 to 0.64: Milan created only slightly more than their opponents, Benfica simply made better use of their chances. Anatoliy Trubin made 4 saves, Mike Maignan 2.

According to API-Football's statistical rating the best player on the pitch was Trubin himself, 8.5, ahead of Tomás Araújo and Lukebakio, both on 8.2, and Kamiński, 7.9 in 80 minutes with a goal and an assist. On Milan's side it was a night to forget for Gonçalo Ramos, 5.9, the lowest of his team, with Christian Pulišić on 6.0 and Ardon Jashari on 6.2.

From a fantasy football point of view, using FantaTB scoring rules, Kamiński is the pick of the night: goal (+3) and assist (+1), for +4 in bonuses. Lukebakio brings +3 with his goal, El Karouani ends on +0.5 between an assist (+1) and a booking (-0.5). Maluses of -0.5 for the booked Pavlović, Banjaqui, Durán, Barreiro and Pavlidis. For Maignan owners, the 2 goals conceded weigh -2. Full FantaTB fantasy ratings arrive overnight.

In the other games of the evening, in La Liga Atletico Madrid thrash Osasuna 4-0 with goals from J. David on 24', Lee Kang-In on 54', Robin Le Normand on 63' and Álex Baena on 82'. Sevilla win 0-1 away at Deportivo La Coruna thanks to M. Sierra on 52'. Barcelona-Racing Santander was still in the second half at the time of writing, while Levante-Athletic Club was postponed.