UEL: Loftus-Cheek bags brace to bulldoze Rennes and finish the whole thing after first leg

AC Milan are already on the verge of the UEFA Europa League last-16 after a statement 3-0 win against Rennes in the first leg of the playoff round.

The Rossonerri celebrated a much-deserved victory at San Siro, primarily thanks to unplayable Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With a goal in each half, the former Chelsea player's brace pushed the hosts two goals up before Rafael Leao sealed the triumph with a lovely effort seven minutes into the second half.

Stefano Pioli's team dominated the game, while the Ligue 1 side struggled to make any serious impact in the opposing half despite more than 10 attempts.

Bennacer had a promising chance to make it 4-0 seconds before the stoppage time, but his free-kick from close range went slightly over the bar.

A three-goal advantage ahead of the return leg, scheduled for the next Thursday, should be enough for the Italians to advance to the next round.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Playoff round - first leg

Thursday

Feyenoord - AS Roma 1-1 (1-0)

/Paixao 45+1 - Lukaku 67/

Galatasaray - Sparta Prague 3-2 (1-0)

/Demirbay 45+1, Krejci 61 og, Icardi 90+1 - Preciado 47, Kuchta 65/

Shakhtar Donetsk - Olympique de Marseille 2-2 (0-0)

/Matviienko 68, Eguinaldo 90+3 - Aubameyang 64, Ndiaye 90/

Young Boys - Sporting CP 1-3 (1-2)

/Ugrinic 42 - Amenda 31 og, Gyokeres 41 pen, Inacio 48/

AC Milan - Rennes 3-0 (1-0)

/Loftus-Cheek 32, 47, Leao 52/

Lens - Freiburg 0-0

Benfica - Toulouse 2-1 (0-0)

/Di Maria 68 pen, 90+9 pen - Desler 75/

Braga - Qarabag 2-4 (1-1)

/Banza 44, Moutinho 90+2 pen - Jankovic 21 pen, Zoubir 54, 69, Vieira 65/