While Milan did not qualify for the Champions League this season like they wanted to, their Europa League campaign begins Wednesday night at the San Siro. In a twist of fate, Milan are facing a very familiar European opponent, S.L. Benfica. Milan have faced off with them a number of times, and defeated Benfica in both 1963 and 1990 to win the European Champion Cup (now known as Champions League.) However, that is hardly the only way our clubs are intertwined. Former Milan Legend Rui Costa is now the President of Benfica, while our manager, Amorim, played much of his career for Benfica. We also have two of our players, Ramos and Moreira, who both got their starts at Benfica as well. But in the new Europa League format, only one team can take home all three points on Wednesday. So this match can really be seen as the duel of the fates.
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| Milan legend Rui Costa returns to San Siro in the Europa League as Benfica's President. |
As legendary as he was as a player, Rui Costa has gone on to be an excellent Sporting Director for Benfica and then moved into board positions until he was elected President five years ago. He brings with him to the San Siro more Milan DNA than the entire Milan club has left these days, so perhaps bringing that winning DNA with him, his Benfica will finally win over Milan, something they have never done in a competitive match.
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| Amorim at Benfica during his playing career. |
Benfica arrive sitting second in their league, with six wins and a draw so far this season. Manager Marco Silva has chosen his Europa League squad, and seems to be missing one player to injury, Alexander Bah. Their most recent match was a 3-1 win over Gil Vicente FC on Saturday, in which Silva lined up a 4-2-3-1 featuring: Soares; Banjaqui, Araújo, Lenglet, Dahl; Berrenechea, Barreiro; Rafa Silva, Prestianni, Schjelderup; and Pavlidis.
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| Benfica will likely remember their former "O Pistoleiro" very well. |
After Saturday's bizarre lineup choices, there has been much speculation about which players will be in Amorim's starting 11. While a number of young players were included on the UEFA squad list, it was reported that Vladimirov, Diawara, and Comotto did not make the 24 man squad list for this match due to limitation of the squad size.
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| Moreira played much of his youth career for Benfica, winning several trophies. |
Obviously, this will be an emotional match for Rui Costa, as well as former Benfica players Amorim, Ramos, and Moreira. Even though this is simply the first match of the Group Stage, how Milan play will set the tone for their Europa League campaign. Having played a very unsatisfactory draw with Lazio on Saturday, Amorim will also want to get the team back to winning ways for morale as well. But Benfica, despite having a fraction of the financial resources of a club like Milan will also have a point to prove. So this match truly is a duel of the fates.
This post inspired by the music of John Williams' "Duel of the Fates"
Milan Futuro vs. Brusaporto
Wednesday, September 16 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)
This match can be streamed on the Milan App in the U.S.
Wednesday, September 16 • 21:00 CEST (3pm EDT)
In the U.S., this match can be streamed English on Paramount+ or CBS Sports Network,
Milan Primavera vs. Roma Primavera
Sunday, September 20 • 11:00 CEST (5 am EDT)
This match is not being televised in the U.S.
Reviewed by Elaine
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