Milan responds after losing its European opener
Alphadjo Cisse scored a hat-trick as AC Milan defeated Salzburg 4–0 at the Red Bull Arena on October 15, collecting its first victory in the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. Gonçalo Ramos added the fourth goal as Milan responded to its opening 2–0 home defeat against Benfica.
Cisse put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute, heading in Omari Hutchinson’s cross. His second arrived in the 32nd minute after Adrien Rabiot helped develop the move and Davide Bartesaghi supplied the final pass for a left-footed finish.
Milan carried a 2–0 lead into halftime and quickly extended it after the restart. Rabiot crossed for Cisse to head home again in the 49th minute, completing the hat-trick before Salzburg could rebuild a route back into the contest.
Ramos scored in the 72nd minute after Ardon Jashari recovered possession and played him through. The four goals came from a mixture of service from wide positions and direct punishment of a turnover, with Milan converting its opportunities across both halves.
The only significant late setback for the visitors was Filippo Terracciano’s straight red card in the 83rd minute. Milan nevertheless protected its clean sheet and left Austria with three points.
Football Italia reported that the hat-trick was the first of Cisse’s career. For Milan, the broader value was an immediate correction after matchday one: a first European win of the campaign and a positive goal difference after two league-phase fixtures.