AC Milan vs Benfica Predicted Lineups: Team News for UEFA Europa League

AC Milan open their UEFA Europa League 2026 league stage campaign with a high-profile home clash against Benfica in Milan. Both sides start this phase on 0 points, but Benfica arrive with stronger recent competitive form and a clear attacking identity, while Milan are still an unknown quantity at this stage of the season in Europe. With no league-stage games played yet, this fixture is a crucial early marker in the race for the play-offs.

In the overall Europa League table, AC Milan are listed 23rd in the league round bracket with 0 points and no games played, projected in the “Play Offs” band. Benfica sit 4th, also on 0 points but backed by a strong recent record: their league form line reads LWWDWW, underlining how dangerous they have been in front of goal. With both teams targeting a deep run, predicted lineups and the balance of the starting lineup on each side will be decisive in a match where the odds and models rate it as almost perfectly balanced.

Historically, Benfica have the psychological edge from their most recent meeting, a 1–0 win over AC Milan in the 2019 International Champions Cup. That does not directly translate to this Europa League tie, but it reinforces the sense that the Portuguese side are comfortable against Italian opposition. This time, though, Milan have home advantage in Milan, and the expected tactical setups promise a tight, high-level European contest.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no listed absences for AC Milan ahead of this Europa League opener. With no injuries or suspensions reported, the Italian side should have a full squad available from their registered list. That gives the coaching staff flexibility to tailor an expected lineup specifically for Benfica’s strengths, likely leaning on experience in midfield and pace in the attacking unit.

With no recent Europa League form string recorded and no prior lineups in this competition for the season, Milan’s tactical approach is harder to project purely from numbers. However, the squad composition suggests a balanced, European-style setup: a solid goalkeeper platform, a deep pool of central defenders, a technically strong midfield, and several versatile attackers who can operate wide or centrally. Expect a cautious but proactive approach, looking to control rhythm in midfield and exploit transitions against Benfica’s aggressive attack.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Maignan
DF: F. Tomori, M. Gabbia, Mario Gila, P. Estupiñán
MF: L. Modrić, R. Loftus-Cheek, Y. Musah
FW: C. Pulišić, Gonçalo Ramos, S. Chukwueze

This predicted lineup leans on AC Milan’s most experienced core. Mike Maignan is the clear choice in goal from the available keepers, offering elite shot-stopping and distribution. At the back, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Mario Gila provide a strong central defensive base, with Pervis Estupiñán expected to bring energy and ball progression from a wide defensive role.

In midfield, Luka Modrić and Ruben Loftus-Cheek give Milan both control and physicality, with Yunus Musah adding ball-carrying and pressing intensity. Further forward, Christian Pulišić and Samuel Chukwueze supply pace and 1v1 threat from wide or half-spaces, while Gonçalo Ramos profiles as the natural focal point up front. Although Milan do not feature in the current Europa League top scorers or assists lists, this combination maximises their creative potential and should generate enough chances to test Benfica’s back line.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica travel to Milan with a couple of notable absences. A. Bah is ruled out as a missing fixture due to injury, and Bruma is also listed as missing the fixture because he is off the roster. Both are excluded from any predicted starting lineup. Even so, Benfica’s squad depth, especially in attack and midfield, remains impressive, and their recent Europa League form and domestic performances underline their status as one of the competition’s more dangerous sides.

Benfica’s league form line of LWWDWW, combined with 19 goals scored in 6 league games (an average of 3.2 goals per match), highlights a high-powered attack. Their last five in all competitions show 18 goals scored and only 4 conceded, with an attacking index at 100% and defensive index at 76%. With that in mind, the expected approach in lineups today is an attack-minded shape built around their standout Europa League performers such as V. Pavlidis and Rafa, supported by creative midfielders and progressive full-backs or wide players.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: A. Trubin
DF: C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, S. El Karouani, S. Dahl
MF: João Palhinha, E. Barrenechea, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, Rafa
FW: V. Pavlidis

Benfica have used an attacking 4-2-3-1 frequently this season, and that is the most logical framework for their predicted starting lineup here. Anatoliy Trubin is the clear number one choice in goal. At the back, Clément Lenglet and Tomás Araújo stand out from the Europa League stats as defenders who contribute in both boxes, each already on the scoresheet. They are flanked by S. El Karouani and S. Dahl, who can provide width and support in advanced areas.

In midfield, João Palhinha offers a specialist ball-winning presence, while Enzo Barrenechea adds balance and simple progression. Ahead of them, Heorhii Sudakov, Jakub Kamiński and Rafa form a highly creative and mobile line behind the striker. All three feature in the top assists listings, each with at least one assist in the competition, underlining their importance in chance creation. Up front, Vangelis Pavlidis is the undisputed focal point: the current Europa League top scorer with 5 goals and 1 assist, and also prominent in yellow card and disciplinary stats, reflecting his combative style. Around him, Benfica can also turn to A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán and G. Prestianni from the bench, all of whom have already scored and assisted in this campaign.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences are far more significant for Benfica than for AC Milan in this particular tie, especially in terms of tactical flexibility on the right flank and attacking rotations. While Milan can select freely from their full European squad, Benfica must adjust for the loss of one of their first-choice full-backs and an experienced wide attacker.

AC Milan Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Benfica Absences:

• A. Bah — Injury (Missing Fixture)
• Bruma — Off the roster (Missing Fixture)

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

On paper, this looks like a classic clash between a structured, balanced Italian side and a high-tempo, attack-heavy Portuguese outfit. AC Milan’s predicted starting XI is built around defensive stability and midfield control. With Tomori, Gabbia and Gila shielding Maignan, Milan should be able to maintain a compact defensive block, particularly against central combinations. The onus will be on Modrić and Loftus-Cheek to slow Benfica’s transitions and dictate tempo, while Musah helps cover wide areas when Pulišić and Chukwueze push forward.

Benfica, by contrast, will likely look to impose themselves with their attacking metrics. Their league record of 19 goals in 6 games and Europa League scoring contributions from Pavlidis, Rafa, Schjelderup, Lukebakio, Durán, Prestianni and Tomás Araújo suggest goals can come from multiple sources. The key matchup will be Pavlidis against Milan’s central defenders: the Greek forward’s 5-goal haul and 1 assist in Europe underline his penalty-box efficiency and ability to occupy a back line on his own. Behind him, Rafa and Sudakov will test Milan’s midfield with their movement between the lines, while Kamiński’s wide positioning can stretch the pitch and create isolation scenarios against Milan’s full-backs.

Another important battle lies in midfield duels. Benfica’s use of Palhinha and Barrenechea as a double pivot offers both aggression and stability, but they will face a technically superior Milan trio. If Milan can bypass Benfica’s first line of pressure and find Modrić in pockets, they can slow the game and limit Benfica’s ability to run at their back line. Conversely, if Benfica’s press clicks and they recover the ball high, their statistical profile — with strong attacking and goals indices — suggests they are capable of punishing turnovers ruthlessly. Wide areas will also be decisive, especially with Benfica missing A. Bah; Milan may look to overload that flank, while Benfica rely more on their advanced midfielders to create from inside channels rather than constant overlapping from full-back.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Market odds and predictive models frame this as a finely balanced contest. The prediction block assigns AC Milan a 0% chance to win, with the draw at 50% and Benfica also at 50%, and lists Benfica as the expected winner. However, bookmaker odds tell a more nuanced story. Across major firms, AC Milan are priced between 2.05 and 2.14 to win at home, implying an approximate probability range of about 46.7–48.8%. The draw is between 3.40 and 3.62 (roughly 27.6–29.4%), while a Benfica away win sits between 3.20 and 3.49 (around 28.7–31.3%). That indicates a slight lean towards Milan from the market, largely due to home advantage, even though Benfica’s form and attacking metrics are superior.

Taking everything together — Benfica’s explosive attack, their Europa League top scorers and creators, Milan’s full availability and home advantage, and the near 50–50 split between draw and Benfica in the prediction model — the most likely outcome looks to be a very tight game where Benfica avoid defeat and a draw is highly plausible. With no explicit predicted goal numbers for the home side and an anomalous goals entry for Benfica, the safest aligned verdict is a low-scoring stalemate that reflects both Benfica’s threat and Milan’s solidity.

Predicted Outcome: AC Milan 1–1 Benfica

How to Watch AC Milan vs Benfica Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local pay-TV sports channel / streaming platform
• UK: Major sports broadcaster or official UEFA Europa League rights holder
• USA / North America: Subscription-based soccer streaming service
• South America: Regional sports network with UEFA rights
• MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports network