UEFA Europa League Preview: Milan vs Benfica – Team News, Lineups & Prediction

Milan kick off their UEFA Europa League campaign since 2020/21 against Benfica at home in Wednesday's fixture. After two domestic matches, Milan are eager to return to form as they have drawn their last two Serie A games. Diego Moreira made an impact for Milan during their 2-2 draw with Lazio on Saturday, netting two goals in stoppage time. Following Milan's recent setbacks, including a late 1-1 draw against Juventus, Ruben Amorim aims for a better result this time around.

Benfica, led by Marco Silva, have a strong run of form in the lead-up to the match. They defeated Gil Vicente 3-1 at home last weekend, extending their winning streak to seven matches across all competitions. This suggests they will approach the match with confidence, aiming for a successful start to their Europa League campaign under the new format.

Milan, despite having seven UEFA Champions League titles, have yet to win the Europa League. The absence of this trophy as motivation could be a driving force for Amorim to secure the prize that eluded him in the 2024/25 season. Milan have shown they can perform well in European competition, as they have remained unbeaten in their last four matches at San Siro (W3, D1).

The team's success has been highlighted by the fact that seven of their last 10 continental games saw both teams score, potentially leading to an exciting and open encounter.

However, there's a concern about Milan's performance under Amorim. In his tenure, Milan have been unable to score before halftime in each of their four competitive games. This trend is concerning, considering that ten of Milan's last 12 goals in all competitions have come after the hour mark. Benfica, on the other hand, present a formidable challenge.

Known for their aggressive style of play, the team has been in excellent form recently, scoring 25 goals in seven consecutive victories, including a 6-2 aggregate win over Aarhus in the Europa League qualifying playoffs. Their strong start to the season and success in away matches (W1, D1, L1) in the Europa League qualifying campaign indicate they could present a challenge for Milan.

Historically, Benfica's performances in previous encounters with Milan have not been promising. The Eagles have lost both matches against Milan in the European Cup/Champions League finals and have gone winless in all six competitive matches against the Rossoneri. However, Benfica have shown resilience, scoring at least three goals in eight of their last 11 competitive games.

For the match, Milan will be bolstered by the return of Matteo Gabbia, who has returned to full training after a lengthy injury layoff. Christian Pulisic, Moreira, and Gabbia are expected to start, with Gabbia potentially replacing Mario Gila in defense. Benfica, meanwhile, will be without Alexander Bah due to a shoulder injury, and it is likely that either Daniel Banjaqui or Fredrik Aursnes will start at right-back.

Vangelis Pavlidis, the free-firing striker who scored six goals throughout the qualifying phase, is expected to be in the starting lineup for Benfica, alongside Andreas Schjelderup and Gianluca Prestianni in the wings.