AC Milan vs Benfica Predicted Lineups for UEFA Europa League

AC Milan welcome Benfica to Milan for a high-profile UEFA Europa League League Stage opener, with both clubs aiming to set the tone early in a long continental campaign. The fixture comes at 19:00 (UTC) on 16 September 2026 and, although it is the first matchday, the stakes are already high for seeding and momentum in the League Round.

In the current Europa League table, AC Milan are listed 23rd in the League Round section with 0 points from 0 games, projected as a side expected to be in the Play Offs picture. Benfica, meanwhile, are ranked 4th in the League Round, also on 0 points but arriving with an impressive underlying record: recent league form of “LWWDWW” and a prolific attack averaging 3.2 goals per match domestically and in European action combined. That contrast in form and attacking output heavily shapes any discussion of predicted lineups and the expected starting lineup on both sides.

Stats suggest this is close to a coin-flip on the result: the prediction model gives AC Milan a 0% chance to win, a 50% chance of a draw, and a 50% chance for Benfica. Betting markets, however, lean slightly towards the hosts, making the tactical choices and lineups today especially decisive in swinging the balance.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

For AC Milan, there are no players listed as unavailable or doubtful in the official absences data for this fixture. With no significant absences reported, the coach has a full squad to choose from across all lines – goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. That should allow a relatively stable and balanced selection, with room to blend experience and youth.

With no Europa League form string yet (0 matches played in this competition this season), Milan’s tactical approach is likely to focus on control and compactness, especially against a Benfica side that has been scoring freely. Expect a cautious but flexible setup, using a solid defensive block behind a technically strong midfield. Several creative and direct attacking options are available, so the expected XI should be capable of transitioning quickly while still maintaining structure.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: M. Maignan
DF: M. Gabbia; Mario Gila; S. Pavlović; F. Tomori
MF: P. Estupiñán; S. Vos; A. Jashari; R. Loftus-Cheek; L. Modrić; C. Pulišić
FW: Gonçalo Ramos

This predicted lineup leans heavily on AC Milan’s depth in defence and midfield. M. Maignan is the clear first-choice goalkeeper option from the available pool. At the back, a strong defensive core of F. Tomori, S. Pavlović, Mario Gila, and M. Gabbia offers aerial presence and recovery pace, ideal against Benfica’s high-volume attack.

In midfield, the expected starting lineup is built around technical security and progression. L. Modrić and R. Loftus-Cheek provide control, passing range, and ball-carrying, while younger options like S. Vos and A. Jashari add energy and pressing. C. Pulišić and P. Estupiñán are included as advanced midfield or wide options to connect play and carry threat between the lines. Up front, Gonçalo Ramos is the focal point, offering penalty-box presence and link play – a key outlet when Milan look to relieve pressure and attack quickly in transition.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica arrive in Milan in excellent form, with a recent league record of “LWWDWW” and 19 goals scored in 6 matches. However, they do have notable absences for this fixture. A. Bah is ruled out as a missing fixture due to injury, and Bruma is also unavailable, listed as off the roster. Both are excluded from any predicted lineups today, forcing adjustments at full-back and in the attacking rotation.

Even with those absences, Benfica’s squad is deep, especially in attacking and creative positions. Their Europa League top scorers list is dominated by Benfica players: V. Pavlidis (5 goals, 1 assist), Rafa (2 goals, 1 assist), A. Schjelderup, D. Lukebakio, J. Durán, G. Prestianni, and defender C. Lenglet all on the scoresheet. With their domestic and European league form so strong, the expected starting lineup should be aggressively set up, aiming to dominate territory and exploit Milan’s still-untested Europa League rhythm.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

In goal, A. Trubin is the standout option from the available keepers and is expected to start. At the back, C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo are both highlighted in the Europa League stats as defenders who contribute offensively (each with a goal), so they form the core of a ball-playing defensive line. With A. Bah unavailable, S. El Karouani and S. Dahl are logical choices to cover the full-back roles, providing width and support in both phases.

The midfield is built around balance and creativity. Joāo Palhinha offers ball-winning and screening in front of the defence, while L. Barreiro, H. Sudakov, and J. Kamiński all feature in the top assists and involvement charts, each credited with at least one assist in this Europa League campaign. That trio should provide vertical passing, late runs, and support in wide areas.

Up front, the predicted starting lineup is clear: V. Pavlidis is the competition’s standout forward so far with 5 goals and 1 assist, and he is the natural focal point in attack. Rafa, listed as a forward/midfielder and also among the top scorers and assist providers (2 goals, 1 assist), is expected to operate off Pavlidis, drifting between the lines and attacking half-spaces. Their combination play and movement will be central to Benfica’s plan to unpick Milan’s defensive structure.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The absence picture is relatively clean overall, but Benfica’s missing players are significant in terms of tactical options and depth. AC Milan have no recorded absences for this match, while Benfica must cope without an important full-back and a 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

Tactically, this contest sets up as Milan’s structure and control against Benfica’s form and firepower. Milan’s predicted XI is built to protect central areas with a dense defensive unit and a technically strong midfield five in front of them. With no Europa League form yet this season, Milan are likely to favour a compact defensive block, limiting space for Benfica’s creative midfielders and forwards to combine centrally. The presence of experienced profiles like L. Modrić and R. Loftus-Cheek suggests a focus on tempo control and selective pressing rather than an all-out high press.

Benfica, by contrast, come into this tie with momentum. Their league form string “LWWDWW” is backed up by strong attacking metrics: 19 goals in 6 league fixtures, an average of 3.2 per match, and scoring across all phases of the game. With V. Pavlidis leading the line and supported by Rafa, H. Sudakov, J. Kamiński, and L. Barreiro, Benfica can overload the half-spaces and wide channels, then attack the box with numbers. The absence of A. Bah removes one dynamic overlapping option, but S. El Karouani and S. Dahl can still provide width, while Lenglet and Tomás Araújo step into midfield to aid build-up.

Key matchups will revolve around how Milan’s back line handles Pavlidis’ movement and how effectively Modrić and Loftus-Cheek can escape Benfica’s pressure. If Milan’s midfield can slow transitions and feed C. Pulišić and Gonçalo Ramos early, they can exploit spaces behind Benfica’s advancing full-backs. Conversely, if Benfica’s midfield three (Palhinha, Sudakov, Barreiro) impose themselves and win the central battle, their front two can spend much of the night receiving in advanced areas, where their recent record suggests they are ruthless.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Taking into account Benfica’s superior recent form, their prolific attack in both league and European play, and the prediction model’s split of 50% draw and 50% away win (with 0% allocated to a home win), the underlying numbers lean slightly towards the Portuguese side avoiding defeat in Milan. However, the betting markets tell a more balanced story: home odds range roughly from 2.05 to 2.14, implying an AC Milan win probability around 46.7–48.8%; away odds between 3.20 and 3.49 imply a Benfica win probability around 28.6–31.3%; and draw odds between 3.40 and 3.62 imply about 27.6–29.4%.

Blending those perspectives, the most data-aligned verdict is that this opener is likely to be tight and tactical, with Benfica’s attacking form offset by Milan’s home advantage and structural solidity. With no explicit goal prediction values available, and the outcome model evenly split between draw and away win, a conservative expectation is that Benfica avoid defeat but struggle to fully overwhelm Milan’s defence.

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 and main streaming platform
UK: Premium sports network and official club streaming service
USA / North America: Major soccer-focused streaming platform
South America: Regional sports cable network and OTT app
MENA: Pan-regional satellite sports broadcaster