Milan responded with a crushing triumph, finishing 0-2 against Benfica with a clear 0-4 in Salzburg. The Rossoneri team showed their best performance of the season, eliminating the doubts created by the negative result in Reggio Emilia. The victory was led by young attacking midfielder Alphadjo Cisse, who scored a hat-trick, becoming the youngest to do so in the Europa League.
Amorim Ruben Amorim has changed the lineup compared to the last match, keeping only Maignan, Pavlovic and Rabiot. Tomori returned to the field, Hutchinson received a new chance and the attack was entrusted to Camarda. The defense, in particular De Winter, showed solidity with decisive closures, while the midfield benefited from the presence of Rabiot. The wings worked well and the attacking midfielders stood out for their attacking phases: Loftus-Cheek recovered balls, Cisse showed precision in his insertions.
The first goal came in the 15th minute, when Hutchinson created an action from the flank, Rabiot passed and Cisse headed in a perfect cross. In the 32nd minute, Hutchinson again fed Rabiot, who passed to Bartesaghi; the latter hit and Cisse finished. In the second half, Cisse continued to dominate, scoring his second and third goals. The first was a pass from the left, while the second was a header. The third came with a counterattack: Loftus-Cheek verticalized, Rabiot fed Cisse, who finished with a header. Cisse thus became the youngest to score a hat-trick in the Europa League.
Other highlights include the introduction of Modric, who made his return to the Europa League after 15 years, and the substitution of Ramos, who scored a left-footed goal soon after coming on. Terracciano was sent off for an unnecessary foul, but the defeat did not ruin Milan's perfect evening. The team will return to action in Europe next week to face Bournemouth, after playing Atalanta in the league.