Europa League preview: AC Milan vs. Benfica – Team news, opposition insight, stats and prediction
AC Milan will begin their 2026-27 Europa League campaign when they face SL Benfica at San Siro on Wednesday night.
Milan are unbeaten in the league having won two (against Torino and Venezia) and drawn two (against Juventus and Lazio), but attention now turns to continental competition and against one of the other favourites to lift the trophy.
In his pre-match press conference, head coach Ruben Amorim touched on some interesting topics including his past in Portugal and what he has learned about his side after four games.
Game date: Wednesday, September 16 Kick-off time: 21:00 (CEST) Venue: San Siro Referee: Jarred Gillett (VAR: Atwell)
Team news
As mentioned, Milan remain unbeaten so far this season but they have dropped points in each of their last two matches in Serie A. The fightback against Lazio from 2-0 down was encouraging, but some worries did emerge from the first half performance.
There have been reports consequently that Amorim has learned a bit more about the way he should set his team up, having made multiple changes for each starting XI so far. The good news is that a fully fit squad is available, the list for which was revealed last week.
The Milan side seen at the start of the second half against Lazio – in terms of personnel and playing principles – closely resembled the team the Portuguese coach has in mind, a style seen only in fits and starts so far.
The obvious changes are in the wing-back and attacking midfield areas. Diego Moreira’s brace off the bench at the Olimpico was a breakout performance from him, while Christian Pulisic made the difference off the bench too.
Alphadjo Cisse remains bright and Omari Hutchinson made his bow against the Biancocelesti, so we are potentially seeing a transition to a faster and more technical side. After all, substitutes will not always be able to rescue the Rossoneri in second halves.
In defence, there will be no changes, despite the three goals conceded in the past two games. So, Mario Gila, Koni De Winter and Strahinja Pavlovic will protect Mike Maignan – despite suggestions that Matteo Gabbia was going to start.
Ahead of them, there will be two changes, with Moreira and Musah coming into the starting XI; Adrien Rabiot will partner the Frenchman, whilst Samuele Chukwueze retains his spot on the right.
Ahead of them, Pulisic will be reintroduced as a starter after his impact from the bench; Cisse starts on the opposite flank, whilst Goncalo Ramos will complete the trident.
Predicted Milan XI (3-4-2-1): Maignan; Gila, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Musah, Rabiot, Moreira; Pulisic, Cisse; Ramos.
Predicted bench: P. Terracciano, Torriani, Tomori, Gabbia, F. Terracciano, Diawara, Bartesaghi, Jashari, Comotto, Saelemaekers, Estupinan, Modric, Hutchinson, Loftus-Cheek, Camarda.
Injuries & suspensions: None.
The opponents
After finishing third in the Primeira Liga last season despite not losing a game (23 wins, 11 draws), a summer of profound changes was forthcoming for Benfica ahead of 2026-27.
The biggest alteration was in the dug out, as Jose Mourinho departed Lisbon to head back to Real Madrid. Benfica moved swiftly to get Marco Silva from Fulham, and a summer with a lot of business then came.
Georgiy Sudakov was the most expensive signing from Shakhtar, with the attacking midfielder costing around €20m. Alessandro Circati headed there from Parma for €18m, while winger Jakub Kaminski joined them from FC Köln for €17m.
Joao Palhinha returned to his home country, signing permanently from Bayern Munich for €14m. Enzo Barrenechea signed from Aston Villa for €12m and Gabriel Indo arrived from Athletic in Brazil for €4m. Loans for Jhon Duran, Souffian El Karouani, Claudio Echeverri and Clement Lenglet were agreed too.
Despite all of that business, Benfica still turned a profit. Amar Dedic (€36m to Newcastle), Orkun Kokcu (€30m to Besiktas), Antonio Silva (€25m to Bournemouth) and Florentino Luis (€24m to Burnley) brought in a decent amount of cash. Nicolas Otamendi left on a free, and Richard Rios joined Al-Ittihad on an initial loan.
To reach the Europa League league phase, the Portuguese giants beat St. Gallen 6-2 on aggregate, then Hearts 7-2 and finally Aarhus Gymnastikforening 6-2, so they strolled into the first phase in truth.
In the league they actually drew 2-2 with Academico de Viseu in round one. Since then though they have won every game: 7-0 vs. Casa Pia, 2-1 vs. Estoril, 3-0 vs. Maritimo, 4-0 vs. Moreirense and 3-1 vs. Gil Vincente.
They are second with 21 goals scored in six games, and only four conceded. Their next opponents at the weekend? FC Porto, who have won six of six so far under Francesco Farioli, after winning the title last season.
Marco Silva has so far been preferring a 4-2-3-1 system with Greek sensation Vangelos Pavlidis leading the line, flanked by the impressive Rafa Silva and Andreas Schjelderup. The diminutive 20-year-old playmaker Gianluca Prestianni has been sensational too, with 10 goal contributions (eight goals) in 10 games this season.
It’s no surprise, then, that all four will keep their places on their trip to San Siro. Then, behind them, Joao Palhinha will return as a starter, as Leandro Barreiro keeps his place in the double pivot.
Most of the defence will remain unchanged, with Samuel Dahl, Clement Lenglet, Tomas Araujo and goalkeeper Samuel Soares keeping their spots. At right-back, though, the experienced Fredrik Aursnes will replace Daniel Banjaqui.
Predicted Benfica XI (4-2-3-1): Soares; Aursnes, Araújo, Lenglet, Dahl; Palhinha, Barreiro; Silva, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Predicted bench: Trubin, Circati, Sudakov, Kaminski, Manu Silva, El Karouani, Cabral, Aursnes, Lukebakio, Duran, Echeverri, Palhinha.
Injuries & suspensions: Bah.
Head to head
Benfica are the Portuguese team that Milan have faced the second-most times (six meetings) in their history after Porto (11). The Rossoneri have a good record against the Eagles, having won four and drawn two, with zero defeats.
The first two fixtures between the sides were European Cup finals. In 1963, Jose Altafini scored a brace to engineer a comeback after Eusebio’s opener as Milan won 2-1. In 1990. Frank Rijkaard got the only goal.
In the 1994-95 Champions League quarter-finals, Marco Simone scored both goals in a 2-0 first leg win at San Siro, with the second leg 0-0 in Portugal. Then, in the 2007-08 group stage, the Diavolo won 2-1 at home (Andrea Pirlo and Filippo Inzaghi with the goals) and drew 1-1 in Lisbon (Pirlo again scoring).
Key stats and facts
➤ Milan have never lost a major European match against Benfica in six previous meetings (W4 D2), including defeating them in two European Cup finals in 1963 and 1990.
➤ Benfica have only faced Bayern Munich (P13 D3 L10) and Internazionale (P7 D3 L4) more often in major European competition without winning than Milan (D2 L4). Their most recent meeting was a 1-1 UEFA Champions League group stage draw in November 2007.
➤ Milan boss Ruben Amorim led Manchester United to the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League final, losing 1-0 to Spurs. He has only lost one of his last six games against Benfica in all competitions (W2 D3), all while Sporting manager.
➤ Benfica have won eight of their 12 matches in the UEFA Europa League group stages (D3 L1), with their only defeat coming in October 2009 when they were beaten 1-0 by AEK Athens. That is the only time in those 12 matches they’ve haven’t scored at least two goals in a group game.
➤ Milan’s Luka Modric has made 156 major European appearances but only 14 of those have been outside of the UEFA Champions League – his last in the Europa League was in November 2011, scoring in a defeat for Tottenham against PAOK Salonika (1-2).
Ones to watch
It’s the Benfica boys who’ll be the ones to watch against the Portuguese outfit, you’d imagine. Moreira and Ramos both spent their youth days with the club. So, it will be a chance to show their progress to their former club.
Then, Koni De Winter will be someone to keep an eye on, too. With reports of Gabbia’s push for a starting spot, he cannot give Ruben Amorim a reason to make a change at the back. He’s not so far, so the hope is that that won’t change.
For the visitors, Joao Palhinha has been rested ahead of this game and he could control the midfield battle if given the chance. A player the Rossoneri know all too well after their transfer links in recent years, his performance will be of interest.
Sticking to the transfer theme, Andreas Schjelderup was linked to the Diavolo in the summer and he could show San Siro what they’re missing out on. With three contributions this season, he will look to add another in Europe.
Prediction
This certainly will not be an easy game for Milan. Benfica’s start to the season demands respect and if the Rossoneri aren’t careful, they may be punished. So, we expect it to be a cagey affair. Given Amorim’s side need to respond to recent games, though, they may just snatch three points and make an early statement.
AC Milan 2-1 Benfica
