AC Milan vs Benfica Predicted Lineups: Team News and Match Analysis

AC Milan open their UEFA Europa League League Stage campaign in Milan against a Benfica side that arrives in outstanding scoring form. With both clubs starting on 0 points and 0 games played in the League Stage, this fixture is an early tone-setter in a format where every result can shape the route towards the Play Offs and beyond.

In the overall league table, AC Milan are currently listed 23rd with 0 points and a Play Offs description attached to their slot, underlining expectations that they should be in the qualification conversation. Benfica sit 4th with 0 points but come in with a strong recent league form string of “LWWDWW”, combining attacking flair with enough defensive stability to travel with confidence. With predicted lineups featuring several high-impact forwards, this looks like one of the standout ties of the opening League Stage round.

Recent continental numbers reinforce that impression: Benfica’s last five matches show 18 goals scored and just 4 conceded, averaging 3.6 scored per game. AC Milan, by contrast, have no competitive Europa League form logged yet this season, so the spotlight falls heavily on how their expected starting lineup will gel at the first attempt against one of the competition’s most dangerous attacks.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no listed absences for AC Milan ahead of this Europa League League Stage opener. With no injuries or suspensions reported, the coach has a full squad to choose from, allowing a tailored approach to Benfica’s high-tempo, attacking style. That should translate into an expected balance between experienced campaigners and younger legs, particularly in midfield and wide areas.

With no recent Europa League form string recorded, AC Milan’s tactical approach is likely to prioritise a compact defensive block built around their deep pool of defenders, while trusting technically strong midfielders and versatile attackers to transition quickly. The predicted lineups will be shaped by the need to control Benfica’s central combinations and protect the box, while still offering enough threat in behind to keep the visitors honest.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This expected starting lineup leans heavily on experience at both ends of the pitch. M. Maignan is the clear first-choice in goal from the available goalkeepers and provides leadership from the back. In defence, a core of M. Gabbia, F. Tomori and Mario Gila offers aerial presence and recovery pace, with P. Estupiñán included from the midfield-listed pool as a natural wide defender capable of stepping into higher zones when AC Milan build play.

In midfield, L. Modrić, R. Loftus-Cheek and Y. Musah form a technically gifted and physically balanced trio. Modrić can dictate tempo and progression, Loftus-Cheek offers ball-carrying and late penalty-box arrivals, while Musah adds energy and defensive coverage to protect transitions. This central unit is expected to be crucial in disrupting Benfica’s combinations involving creative midfielders and second-line runners.

Up front, the predicted forward line of C. Pulišić, Gonçalo Ramos and S. Chukwueze gives AC Milan pace, movement and penalty-box presence. Pulišić and Chukwueze can attack from wide areas, driving inside onto their stronger feet, while Gonçalo Ramos operates as the focal point, attacking crosses and linking with midfield runners. With no Europa League top scorers or assists listed for AC Milan so far, this trio is projected to carry most of the attacking load in this opening group fixture, making their chemistry and efficiency in front of goal a major storyline in the lineups today.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica travel to Milan with two confirmed absentees. A. Bah is ruled out as a missing fixture due to injury, while Bruma is also unavailable and listed as off the roster for this match. Those losses affect both the right side of defence and the attacking depth, but the squad remains deep and packed with in-form players, especially in forward areas.

Despite these absences, Benfica’s recent league form of “LWWDWW” and a last-five record featuring 18 goals scored underline why their expected lineup will still look very strong. The Portuguese side have been using attack-minded shapes, and their Europa League lineups have recently featured formations such as 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2. With several players high in both the top scorers and top assists charts, Benfica’s lineups today should again be built to dominate the ball, press high, and create a steady flow of chances.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Trubin
DF: C. Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, A. Circati, S. El Karouani
MF: João Palhinha, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński
FW: Rafa, V. Pavlidis

A. Trubin is expected to start in goal, given his status as the senior goalkeeper among Diogo Ferreira and Samuel Soares. In front of him, the back line is built around C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, both of whom feature in the Europa League top scorers and assists lists from defensive positions, indicating their threat on set pieces and involvement in build-up. A. Circati and S. El Karouani complete a back four with enough mobility to defend wide channels and support the press.

In midfield, João Palhinha anchors the structure, providing ball-winning and screening in front of the defence. Alongside him, L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov and J. Kamiński all appear in the top assists rankings, underlining their creative output and ability to progress the ball. Sudakov and Kamiński, in particular, are expected to operate between the lines and in half-spaces, feeding the forward line and arriving late in the box.

Up front, the predicted pairing of Rafa and V. Pavlidis gives Benfica a devastating combination of movement and finishing. Pavlidis is currently one of the standout performers in the competition with 5 goals and 1 assist in just 3 appearances, and he also tops the yellow cards list for Benfica, reflecting his aggressive pressing and physical involvement. Rafa has contributed 2 goals and 1 assist across 4 appearances and remains a constant threat attacking space behind the defence. With additional firepower like A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán and G. Prestianni available from the bench, Benfica’s attacking options in the predicted lineups are among the strongest in the Europa League field.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

Absences are more significant on the Benfica side, particularly at right-back and in the attacking rotation, and could subtly shift the tactical balance of the match. AC Milan, by contrast, can rely on a fully available squad, allowing them to match Benfica’s intensity and adjust in-game without being constrained by fitness issues.

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 AC Milan’s balanced, slightly more conservative structure and Benfica’s high-octane, attack-first approach. AC Milan’s back line, marshalled by F. Tomori and M. Gabbia, will be tasked with tracking the movement of V. Pavlidis and Rafa, who thrive on quick combinations and runs into the channels. P. Estupiñán’s role is likely to be pivotal: he must decide when to advance to support C. Pulišić and when to hold his position to prevent Benfica from exploiting space on transitions.

In midfield, the battle between L. Modrić, R. Loftus-Cheek and Y. Musah on one side and the Benfica trio of João Palhinha, L. Barreiro and H. Sudakov on the other could decide the tempo. Palhinha’s screening in front of the defence allows Sudakov and Kamiński to push higher, looking to combine with Rafa between the lines. AC Milan will need Modrić’s press resistance and passing range to bypass Benfica’s first pressing line and release Gonçalo Ramos, Pulišić and Chukwueze into space. Benfica’s recent attacking numbers – 19 league goals in 6 games with scoring spread across all phases of the match – suggest they will commit numbers forward, but that also leaves room for Milan’s wide forwards to counter if they can win the ball cleanly.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest Benfica arrive as the more cohesive and in-form side. Their Europa League attacking output, led by V. Pavlidis (5 goals, 1 assist) and supported by Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio, is among the most prolific in the competition. The predictions model leans towards Benfica as the likely winner, with the probability split at 0% for an AC Milan win, 50% for a draw, and 50% for a Benfica victory.

However, the pre-match odds from major bookmakers are more balanced. Home win prices for AC Milan range from 2.05 to 2.14, implying an approximate probability band of around 46.7–48.8%. Draw odds between 3.40 and 3.62 imply roughly 27.6–29.4%, while Benfica away prices from 3.20 to 3.49 translate to about 28.7–31.3%. That positions AC Milan as a narrow favourite on the market, with Benfica respected but still underdog status on the road. Balancing the model’s preference for Benfica with the market’s tilt towards Milan and the Italian side’s home advantage, this looks like a tight contest where Benfica’s attacking edge may be slightly tempered by AC Milan’s structure and depth.

Predicted Outcome: AC Milan 1–1 Benfica
With the goals field not providing a specific scoreline and the win probabilities split evenly between draw and away win, a conservative prediction leans towards a shared result, reflecting Benfica’s strong form but also AC Milan’s home advantage and full-strength squad.

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 broadcaster / streaming platform (check regional listings)
• UK: Major sports channel or official UEFA Europa League broadcast partner
• USA / North America: Premium sports network or dedicated football streaming service
• South America: Regional cable sports network and official streaming partners
• MENA: Subscription-based sports network with UEFA Europa League rights