AC Milan vs Benfica Europa League Preview: Team Updates, Lineups & Broadcast Info
On Wednesday evening at 21:00 CET (3:00 p.m. ET), AC Milan will host Benfica at the iconic San Siro stadium. Both teams missed out on Champions League football last season and now face off as they kick off their Europa League campaigns. This meeting of two historic clubs carries plenty of weight, with a rich European history between them.
The Big Question: Can AC Milan Maintain Their Unbeaten Start Against Benfica's Winning Run?
AC Milan have started Serie A unbeaten after four matches, securing two wins and two draws. Their latest result was an impressive comeback from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against Lazio, thanks to two goals from substitute Diego Moreira. Meanwhile, Benfica arrive in excellent form under coach Marco Silva, riding a seven-match winning streak across all competitions. Last weekend, they rallied for a 3-1 victory over Gil Vicente.
There’s an interesting subplot as Ruben Amorim, Benfica’s manager, spent nine years playing for Benfica and later managed Sporting, often getting the better of his former club. Historically, Milan hold the edge — Benfica have never defeated AC Milan in six competitive matches, including two European Cup finals in 1963 and 1990.
AC Milan Team News
Amorim is expected to rotate his squad for this midweek fixture. Defenders Mattia Gabbia and Mario Gila have recovered from minor knocks and are available after featuring against Lazio, though likely only one will start. Luka Modrić’s participation is uncertain; at 41, his recent European appearances outside the Champions League go back to 2011, suggesting this may be a rotation choice rather than injury-related. Forward Gonçalo Ramos, a product of Benfica’s academy who moved through PSG before joining Milan, is anticipated to start against his former team. Christian Pulisic, Alphadjo Cissé, and Samuel Chukwueze will compete for the remaining attacking spots.
Benfica Team News
Alexander Bah remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, so either Fredrik Aursnes or Daniel Banjaqui is expected at right-back. Vangelis Pavlidis spearheads the attack after scoring six goals during qualifying rounds alone. Silva might also rotate his lineup ahead of a challenging league trip to Porto on Sunday.
Confirmed Lineups
- AC Milan Starting XI: To be confirmed
- Benfica Starting XI: To be confirmed
Broadcast and Streaming Details
- USA: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ (English), DAZN USA (Spanish)
- Canada: DAZN Canada, FuboTV
- UK: TNT Sports 2
- Italy: Sky Sports 252
- Portugal: SporTV-5
Both sides bring strong European experience and current momentum into this eagerly awaited Europa League opener. AC Milan will aim to assert themselves after their absence from this competition since 2020-21, while Benfica look to continue their impressive run in a new tournament. Fans can expect a fiercely competitive match under the lights at San Siro.
