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

AC Milan open their UEFA Europa League League Stage campaign in Milan against a Benfica side arriving with serious attacking form and strong early-season momentum. With both clubs starting on 0 points and 0 games played in the competition, this is a tone‑setting fixture in the new League Stage format, and predicted lineups will be closely scrutinised by fans and bettors alike.

In the overall Europa League table, AC Milan are listed 23rd with 0 points and a neutral goal difference, tagged in the “Play Offs” band, while Benfica sit much higher at 4th, also on 0 points but coming off an impressive run of results in other competitions. Benfica’s league form string of “LWWDWW” underlines how dangerous they have been recently, especially in front of goal. With no official starting lineup yet, this pre‑match analysis focuses on expected XIs, key absences, and how the tactical battle is likely to unfold at a packed night in Milan.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AC Milan enter this Europa League opener without any listed injuries or suspensions for this specific fixture. No significant absences reported. That gives the coach maximum flexibility to rotate or to go close to a strongest possible side, balancing domestic commitments with the importance of starting well in Europe.

With no recent Europa League form string available and all competition stats essentially reset, Milan’s approach is expected to lean on experience in key areas and athleticism in wide zones. The squad list suggests a blend of established names like Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori, Luka Modrić and Christian Pulišić, complemented by younger options such as Yunus Musah, F. Camarda and O. Hutchinson. The expected tactical setup should feature a solid defensive block behind a technically strong midfield, with flexible forwards attacking from wide and central zones.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This predicted lineup leans heavily on AC Milan’s most experienced spine. Mike Maignan is the clear first-choice goalkeeper option. At the back, F. Tomori, M. Gabbia and Mario Gila offer a physically strong and aerially solid core, with D. Bartesaghi providing youthful legs on the flank. P. Estupiñán is listed as a midfielder but can operate in advanced wide roles, giving Milan an extra outlet in transition.

In midfield, L. Modrić brings elite game management and passing range, likely to dictate tempo and help Milan play through Benfica’s press. R. Loftus-Cheek and Y. Musah add ball-carrying power and vertical running from deeper zones, allowing Milan to break lines and support the attack. C. Pulišić, registered as a midfielder, is expected to function as a high, creative wide player cutting inside to combine with Gonçalo Ramos, who leads the line as the central forward and primary goal threat. With several attacking options on the bench (such as S. Chukwueze, A. Saelemaekers and F. Camarda), Milan can change the dynamic later in the game if they need more direct pace or penalty-box presence.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica travel to Milan with a couple of notable absentees. A. Bah is ruled out for this fixture due to injury, and Bruma is listed as off the roster, so neither is expected to feature in the lineups today. Even so, the Portuguese side arrive in strong overall shape, with depth across defence, midfield and attack.

Their recent run in league and European action has been excellent: a league form string of “LWWDWW” with 19 goals scored and only 6 conceded across 6 league fixtures. They have averaged 3.2 goals per game in that sample, with a particularly strong attacking output at home but still productive away. Benfica have used attacking shapes most often, including a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-1-3-2 in their six recorded lineups, and we can expect a similarly front‑foot, possession‑oriented approach in Milan, built around top Europa League scorers and creators such as V. Pavlidis and Rafa.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
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

This expected starting lineup for Benfica is built around their standout Europa League performers. In goal, A. Trubin is the senior option and fits the profile of a modern shot-stopper comfortable playing behind a high defensive line. At the back, C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo both feature in the Europa League scoring charts from defensive positions, highlighting their threat on set pieces as well as their importance in build‑up. S. El Karouani and S. Dahl give width from full-back, providing crossing and overlapping support for the wide midfielders.

In midfield, João Palhinha is the natural anchor, screening the defence and winning duels, while E. Barrenechea offers vertical passing and balance. H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński and Rafa all appear among the Europa League assist leaders for Benfica, and they are expected to operate between the lines and from wide channels, rotating positions to stretch Milan’s back line. Rafa, in particular, brings direct dribbling and end product, with 2 goals and 1 assist already in the competition. Up front, V. Pavlidis is the focal point: he leads the Europa League scoring charts for Benfica with 5 goals and 1 assist, and also tops their yellow-card list, underlining how aggressively he competes in duels. With additional attacking options like D. Lukebakio, A. Schjelderup, J. Durán and G. Prestianni on the bench, Benfica have the tools to maintain a high attacking tempo for 90 minutes.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences are relatively limited for this fixture, but they still carry tactical weight, especially for Benfica on the right side of their defence and attack. Milan, by contrast, have a full squad available and can tailor their game plan to exploit any weakness in Benfica’s reshaped back line.

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

The predicted lineups point towards a clash between Milan’s structured, experience‑heavy core and Benfica’s high‑tempo, multi‑threat attack. With Modrić, Loftus-Cheek and Musah expected to form Milan’s central platform, the home side should be able to control phases of possession and slow Benfica’s transitions. The key question is whether Milan’s back line of Tomori, Gabbia and Mario Gila, supported by Bartesaghi and Estupiñán, can contain the movement of V. Pavlidis and the late runs from Rafa, J. Kamiński and H. Sudakov.

Benfica’s recent numbers suggest they will not be shy about committing players forward. They have scored 19 league goals across 6 fixtures, with a spread of contributions: Pavlidis as the main finisher, Rafa and A. Schjelderup chipping in with goals and assists, and defenders like C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo dangerous on set plays. Their league minutes distribution of goals shows threats across all phases of the game, with particularly productive spells before half-time and in the final 15 minutes. For Milan, that means concentration and defensive organisation must be maintained throughout. On the flip side, Benfica’s away defensive average of 1.3 goals conceded per game suggests there will be space for Pulišić and Gonçalo Ramos to exploit, especially if Milan can draw Benfica’s full-backs high and counter into the vacated channels.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Market odds and the predictive model disagree slightly on the balance of this fixture. The prediction model gives Benfica a 50% chance of victory, with a 50% probability of a draw and effectively 0% assigned to an AC Milan win. However, bookmakers price AC Milan as narrow favourites at home: home win odds range from 2.05 to 2.14, implying an approximate probability band of 46.7–48.8%. Away win odds for Benfica sit between 3.20 and 3.49, implying roughly 28.7–31.3%, while the draw is priced between 3.40 and 3.62 (around 27.6–29.4%).

Given Benfica’s outstanding recent attacking form and their strong Europa League output from Pavlidis, Rafa and A. Schjelderup, they look well equipped to trouble Milan’s defence. At the same time, Milan’s home advantage, experience and depth, plus the lack of any significant absences, mean they are unlikely to be overrun. With the goals fields in the prediction model not providing a clear expected scoreline, the most reasonable verdict is a tightly contested game in which Benfica’s cutting edge slightly outweighs Milan’s control, but where the draw remains a strong runner.


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 sports pay-TV 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 Europa League rights
  • MENA: Satellite sports network and associated streaming service

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