AC Milan vs Benfica Europa League Clash: Team Updates, Lineups & Viewing Info
AC Milan Hosts Benfica in Europa League Opener
At the iconic San Siro stadium, AC Milan will face off against Benfica on Wednesday at 21:00 CET (3:00 p.m. ET) to kick off their Europa League campaign. Both teams missed out on last season's Champions League, making this meeting a significant showdown between two clubs with rich histories.
Key Question: Will Milan’s Unbeaten Run End Against Benfica’s Winning Streak?
AC Milan remains unbeaten after four Serie A matches, securing two wins and two draws. Their latest match saw them fight back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at Lazio, thanks to two goals from Diego Moreira coming off the bench. On the other side, Benfica arrives in excellent form under Marco Silva, boasting seven consecutive victories across all competitions. Their most recent win was a comeback 3-1 triumph over Gil Vicente.
The history between these clubs adds intrigue: Ruben Amorim, Benfica's manager, spent nine years as a player there and later faced Benfica often as Sporting's coach, usually getting favorable results. Despite this, Benfica has never beaten Milan in six competitive encounters, including two European Cup finals in 1963 and 1990, favoring the Italian side historically.
AC Milan Team News
Amorim is likely to rotate his squad for this midweek fixture. Defenders Mattia Gabbia and Mario Gila have both recovered from minor injuries and played against Lazio, though only one might start here. The participation of Luka Modrić is uncertain—at 41, his involvement in European games outside the Champions League hasn't happened since 2011, suggesting a careful squad management choice rather than injury concerns.
Striker Gonçalo Ramos, who developed in Benfica's academy before spells at PSG and Milan, is expected to face his former club. Meanwhile, players like Christian Pulisic, Alphadjo Cissé, and Samuel Chukwueze are competing for remaining attacking positions.
Benfica Team News
Alexander Bah continues to be sidelined with a shoulder injury, so either Fredrik Aursnes or Daniel Banjaqui is expected to start at right-back. Vangelis Pavlidis leads Benfica's attack following an impressive start to the season, already scoring six goals during qualifying rounds. With a challenging league match against Porto looming on Sunday, Marco Silva may also decide to rotate his lineup.
Confirmed Lineups
Starting formations and lineups will be updated once officially announced, but both teams are expected to field strong squads.
How to Watch AC Milan vs Benfica
- USA: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ (English), DAZN USA (Spanish)
- Canada: DAZN Canada, FuboTV
- UK: TNT Sports 2
- Italy: Sky Sports 252
- Portugal: SporTV-5
This match promises an intense battle as Milan aims to assert itself in its first Europa League appearance since the 2020-21 season, while Benfica looks to extend its hot run into Europe’s secondary competition. Expect a fiercely competitive evening at the San Siro.
