Portugal's Benfica recorded their first-ever victory over Italy's Milan with a 2-0 win at San Siro on Wednesday in the opening round of the Europa League league phase. In Belgium, France's Lyon beat hosts Anderlecht 2-1 to begin their campaign with three points.
Benfica settle the contest with two goals at San Siro
Belgian Dodi Lukebakio put Benfica ahead in the 16th minute after cutting in from the right and firing a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area into the goalkeeper Mike Maignan's bottom-right corner. Poland's Jakub Kaminski added the second in the 53rd minute, turning in a cross from Morocco's Souffian El Karouani on the right from close range and sending the ball into the roof of the net.
The victory came in the teams' first meeting since 2007. Before kick-off, Benfica president and former Milan player Rui Costa received a warm welcome from the Italian club's fans. Milan had dominated the previous six meetings, recording four wins and two draws.
Lyon open campaign with win over Anderlecht
Those meetings included the Italian club's victories over Benfica in the European Cup finals, the competition later renamed the Champions League, in 1963 and 1990. In Brussels, Lyon took the lead against Anderlecht through Denmark's Noah Nartey in the eighth minute, before Japan's Kito Nakamura added a second in the 22nd minute. Serbia's Mihajlo Cvetkovic pulled one back for the hosts in the 61st minute, but the score remained 2-1 until the final whistle.
England's Sunderland marked their first European appearance in 53 years with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands' AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light.
