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

AC Milan open their UEFA Europa League League Stage campaign in Milan against a Benfica side that arrives in outstanding continental form. While the Italian side are yet to kick a ball in this season’s competition, Benfica come into this fixture having scored 19 goals in their last six Europa League matches and riding an impressive sequence of results. With both clubs eyeing deep runs and knockout qualification, this is one of the standout ties of the opening League Stage round and a prime focus for anyone tracking predicted lineups.

In the League Stage standings, AC Milan are currently listed 23rd in the overall League Round ranking with 0 points and 0 games played, earmarked for the Play Offs places at this early stage. Benfica sit much higher at 4th, also on 0 points but backed by a strong league form string of “LWWDWW” across their recent Europa League outings. That recent record, combined with their attacking numbers, underpins why many observers see the Portuguese side as slight favourites, even away from home.

With official team sheets not yet released, this preview focuses on data-driven predicted lineups, expected tactical plans and the key names likely to shape the contest. The aim is to give a clear view of the probable starting lineup for both AC Milan and Benfica before the final team news drops closer to kick-off.

AC Milan Team News & Expected Lineups Today

AC Milan enter the League Stage without any listed injuries or suspensions, giving the coaching staff a full squad to choose from. With no Europa League form string recorded yet this season and no recent competition minutes to guide selection, the expectation is that Milan will lean heavily on their senior core in both defence and midfield, supplemented by a mix of established attackers and highly rated youngsters.

Given the strength of the opponent and the importance of starting the group campaign well, Milan are likely to adopt an organised, balanced shape with a strong defensive base and a technically secure midfield. The expected emphasis will be on controlling tempo through experienced players such as Luka Modrić and R. Loftus-Cheek, then releasing pace and direct running from the wide attackers. With no significant absences reported, competition for places in the starting lineup is intense across the pitch.

AC Milan Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

This predicted lineup for AC Milan is built around a clear spine of experience and quality. In goal, M. Maignan is the obvious first-choice option, providing elite shot-stopping and distribution. At the back, F. Tomori anchors a defence alongside M. Gabbia and Mario Gila, with D. Bartesaghi offering youthful energy on the flank. This unit is expected to sit in a compact defensive block, prioritising solidity against Benfica’s prolific forward line.

In midfield, Luka Modrić and R. Loftus-Cheek offer a blend of control, passing range and ball-carrying, while Y. Musah adds athleticism and pressing intensity. That trio should give Milan the ability to recycle possession under pressure and launch quick transitions. Up front, Gonçalo Ramos leads the line as a penalty-box focal point, supported by S. Chukwueze’s direct dribbling threat and C. Pulišić’s intelligent movement between the lines. Even without Europa League goals or assists on the board yet this season, this attacking group has the profile to trouble Benfica’s back line, especially in transition and when exploiting space behind the full-backs.

Benfica Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Benfica travel to Milan with a couple of notable absentees but otherwise in strong health. Their Europa League league form string of “LWWDWW” underlines just how well they have adapted to the competition, scoring 19 and conceding only 6 across six fixtures. The standout performer has been V. Pavlidis, who leads the Europa League scoring charts here with 5 goals and 1 assist from just 3 appearances. Around him, Rafa, A. Schjelderup and D. Lukebakio have also chipped in with goals and assists, giving the Portuguese side one of the most dangerous attacking units in the tournament.

The injuries list confirms that right-back A. Bah is ruled out, as is winger Bruma, who is off the roster for this fixture. That forces some adjustment in the defensive line and removes one wide attacking option from the pool, but Benfica still have ample depth in both full-back and attacking positions. With lineups today expected to reflect their recent Europa League success, Benfica are likely to continue with an attacking-minded shape, pressing high and using quick combinations around V. Pavlidis to stretch Milan’s defence.

Benfica Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

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

In goal, A. Trubin is the natural pick, supported by a back line built around C. Lenglet and Tomás Araújo, both of whom have already contributed goals in this Europa League campaign from defensive positions. With A. Bah unavailable, S. El Karouani and A. Circati are strong candidates to fill the full-back roles, tasked with both containing Milan’s wide threats and providing width in possession.

The midfield engine room is expected to feature Joāo Palhinha as the primary ball-winner, with L. Barreiro and H. Sudakov offering energy, pressing and forward running. J. Kamiński, who appears among the top assist providers, adds creativity from wide or half-space zones, linking with the front two. Up front, V. Pavlidis is the focal point – his 5 goals and 1 assist underline his status as the main goal threat – while Rafa, with 2 goals and 1 assist, operates as a second striker or advanced midfielder, exploiting pockets of space and combining at speed. This predicted lineup gives Benfica multiple sources of goals and assists and is consistent with their recent high-scoring Europa League form.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

The absences are more significant on Benfica’s side than for AC Milan and could subtly shift the tactical dynamics. Milan have the luxury of a full group and can rotate or adjust in-game without being constrained by injuries, while Benfica must compensate for the loss of a starting-calibre full-back and an experienced winger.

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 set up a clear clash between Milan’s controlled, possession-oriented approach and Benfica’s high-tempo attacking style. Milan’s back line, anchored by F. Tomori and M. Gabbia, will need to stay compact and disciplined against the movement of V. Pavlidis and Rafa. Pavlidis’ penalty-box instincts and aerial presence are a major test for Milan’s central defenders, particularly on crosses and second balls, while Rafa’s ability to drift into half-spaces will ask questions of Milan’s midfield tracking, especially around Luka Modrić and R. Loftus-Cheek.

In midfield, the battle between Joāo Palhinha, L. Barreiro and H. Sudakov against Modrić, Loftus-Cheek and Y. Musah could decide the rhythm of the game. Benfica’s trio is built to press, win duels and spring quick attacks, while Milan’s is constructed to keep the ball, slow the tempo when needed and exploit transitions through C. Pulišić and S. Chukwueze. Wide areas are particularly intriguing: J. Kamiński and the overlapping S. El Karouani will look to pin back Milan’s full-backs, but that also leaves space for Chukwueze and Pulišić to counter if Benfica’s rest defence is not perfectly set. Given Benfica’s Europa League record of 19 goals scored and only 6 conceded, their attacking metrics are superior on paper, but Milan’s defensive organisation and home advantage in Milan could narrow that gap significantly.

Match Prediction and Verdict

Stats suggest a finely balanced contest. The prediction model gives AC Milan a 0% chance to win, a 50% probability of a draw and a 50% probability of a Benfica victory. However, the pre-match odds from major bookmakers tell a more nuanced story: home win odds range roughly from 2.05 to 2.14, implying an AC Milan win probability in the 46.7–48.8% band, while away win odds between about 3.20 and 3.49 imply a Benfica probability around 28.7–31.3%. The draw, priced between 3.40 and 3.62, sits near 27.6–29.4% implied probability. In other words, the market sees Milan as a slight favourite at home, while the predictive model leans marginally towards Benfica based on form and attacking output.

Taking into account Benfica’s Europa League scoring power, the absence of A. Bah and Bruma, and Milan’s full-strength squad and home advantage, the most reasonable verdict is that the Italian side can contain Benfica’s attack enough to avoid defeat, even if they do not fully dominate. With the goals prediction field not providing a concrete scoreline and the win probabilities split evenly between draw and away win, a conservative call is to side with a share of the points in a tight, tactical opener.

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 football streaming platform
UK: Premium sports network and associated streaming service
USA / North America: Major soccer-focused cable channel and OTT platform
South America: Regional sports broadcaster and national cable partners
MENA: Regional satellite sports network and official digital app