AC Milan got their 2026-27 Europa League campaign up and running with a resounding 4-0 win away against RB Salzburg in round two.

The star of the show was without a doubt Alphadjo Cisse, who got three goals inside 50 minutes. It was a perfect hat-trick too as he opened with a header, then scored with his left and his right, all from close range.

Goncalo Ramos netted a fourth off the bench to add a bit of extra shine to the scoreline, but Filippo Terracciano was sent off inside the final 10 minutes to end things on a bit of a sour note.

Still, it was a job very well done by the Rossoneri in what can be a testing stadium. It is also the first game that Salzburg have lost under Danny Röhl, at the 16th attempt.

First half: At the double

Ruben Amorim made seven changes to the starting line-up from the one that draw with Sassuolo on Sunday. Fikayo Tomori and Davide Bartesaghi came into the defence, Ardon Jashari resumed a place in midfield, while Omari Hutchinson, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Alphadjo Cisse and Francesco Camarda formed a new-look attack.

In the opening 10 minutes what prevailed above all was the high press from both teams. Salzburg and Milan’s attempts to build from the back often fell apart quickly due to the pressure coming from the opposition, with some giveaways in dangerous areas that fizzled out.

The first attempt of the game went the Rossoneri’s way and it fell to the goal scorer from Sunday, Adrien Rabiot. Bartesaghi was found in a lot of space down the left side and his whipped cross was met by the Frenchman’s volley, though it hit his own man and went wide.

The next opening in the 12th minute also came down the left side as Bartesaghi and Cisse had a nice exchange, which ended with the full-back’s square pass almost deflecting perfectly into the path of the winger’s run, though Zawieschitzky did well to smother it. Moments later, Hutchinson fired well over from a good position on the right side of the box.

In the 15th minute, Milan did take the lead that their early pressure perhaps warranted, and it was Cisse who again popped up with a goal away from home. This time it was a lovely combination down the right side that saw Hutchinson given space to cross on his weaker right foot, picking out Cisse who headed in brilliantly.

Milan were very close to doubling their lead very soon after. Rabiot played a long pass to Loftus-Cheek and Zawieschitzky came off his line to cut it out, but it fell to Hutchison who had a low shot cleared off the line by the heroic Boma.

With just less than 32 minutes on the clock, the Rossoneri got their second of the night and Cisse doubled his tally. A delightful ping from Rabiot on the right side of the field found Bartesaghi’s run to the left byline, and his magnificent cut-back on the volley met the run of his compatriot, who turned it in from close range.

Second half: Pedal to the floor

Milan started the second half how they had ended the first: with Bartesaghi and Rabiot combining well down the left side. This time it was the former who set up the latter for a first-time shot that was heading into the top corner at the near-post, but was clutched by the Salzburg goalkeeper.

The home side had threatened on a couple of occasions with low crosses that flashed across the face of goal, then at the other end the Diavolo had the ball in the back of the net for a third time. Cisse’s dream night was completed as the teenager was on hand to turn in a Rabiot cut-back, and the goal survived a VAR check for a very close offside.

If any further indication was needed regarding how Milan’s night was going, it came four minutes after the third goal when Maignan came sprinting 25 yards off his line to make a brilliant sliding challenge to thwart the danger from Baidoo’s run behind the defence.

On the hour mark, Amorim chose to make a triple substitution. Cisse, Camarda and Rabiot were the ones to make way as Christian Pulisic, Goncalo Ramos and Luka Modric took their respective places. A few minutes later, Tomori came off for Filippo Terracciano.

Hutchinson was inches away from getting his first goal in red and black after Modric found him with a ball in behind. The winger cut onto his left and his shot was parried just past the post. Zawieschitzky then just about clutched a long-range strike from Bartesaghi.

The attempts continued to flow Milan’s way as Hutchinson was again involved down the right side. The Englishman stood up another excellent cross on his weak foot into a dangerous area, and though Pulisic got on the end of it he couldn’t quite get over the ball and headed over.

There were a few Salzburg players who gave the impression of just wanting the night to end, and that certainly applied to Mazurek who gifted Milan a fourth goal. He stumbled over the ball trying to play out from the back allowing Jashari to somewhat inadvertently lay the ball into the path of the substitute Ramos, who made no mistake from near the penalty spot.

Amorim made his final change with just over 10 minutes to go as Sankhoun Diawara came on for Pavlovic, who got a warm reception from the Salzburg fans who cheered him on for two years before his move to Milan.

There was a sour note not long after as Terracciano was given his marching orders. A ball was played through to Schmid who had got goal-side and the defender shoved him over, giving the referee no choice despite the protests.