AC Milan vs Benfica Europa League Clash: Team Updates, Lineups & Broadcast Info

On Wednesday at 21:00 CET (3:00 p.m. ET), AC Milan will face Benfica at the San Siro to kick off their Europa League campaigns. Both clubs, rich with history, missed out on last season's Champions League and now meet in a high-stakes encounter.

Current Form and Key Storylines

AC Milan have started Serie A unbeaten in four matches, with two wins and two draws. Their latest effort was a dramatic 2-2 draw against Lazio where Diego Moreira scored twice after coming off the bench. Meanwhile, Benfica arrives at San Siro on a seven-match winning streak across all competitions, including a recent 3-1 comeback victory over Gil Vicente.

The match carries extra intrigue given coach Ruben Amorim’s history; he played for Benfica for nine years and later managed Sporting against them with success. Despite that, Benfica have never beaten Milan in six competitive matches, which include two European Cup finals in 1963 and 1990.

Team News for AC Milan

Amorim is likely to rotate his squad for this midweek game. Defenders Mattia Gabbia and Mario Gila have recovered from minor issues and are available, though only one may start. Modrić’s participation is uncertain; at 41 years old, his European appearances outside the Champions League have been rare since 2011, suggesting this is a squad management decision rather than injury-related.

Gonçalo Ramos, who developed in Benfica's academy before spells at PSG and Milan, is expected to start facing his former club. Christian Pulisic, Alphadjo Cissé, and Samuel Chukwueze are competing for other attacking roles.

Benfica Lineup Updates

Alexander Bah remains out with a shoulder injury, so either Fredrik Aursnes or Daniel Banjaqui should fill the right-back position. Vangelis Pavlidis, enjoying a strong start with six goals just in qualifying, will lead the attack. Coach Marco Silva might also rotate his squad ahead of a challenging league trip to Porto on Sunday.

Broadcast Details by Country

• USA: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ (English); DAZN USA (Spanish)
• Canada: DAZN Canada, FuboTV
• UK: TNT Sports 2
• Italy: Sky Sports 252
• Portugal: SporTV-5

Confirmed Starting Lineups

Starting formations and lineups are yet to be announced and will be updated accordingly.

What to Expect

Both teams carry strong European experience and good momentum into this match. AC Milan wants to make a strong statement after returning to the Europa League for the first time since 2020-21. Benfica aims to keep their winning run alive as they compete in a new tournament. The San Siro promises a thrilling contest between two storied clubs.