Europa League official line-ups: Milan vs. Benfica
Quick summary
Official starting line-ups have been confirmed for the Europa League match between AC Milan and Benfica.
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Attributed to original sourceOmari Hutchinson gets his first start for Milan against Benfica in the Europa League, with Goncalo Ramos and Alphadjo Cisse supported by a revamped midfield.
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of AC Milan looks on before the Serie A match between Torino FC and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) This is the opening fixture in the league phase of the competition, so all the results go into a big table, facing four opponents at home and four away.
Milan have had a tricky start to life under coach Ruben Amorim, as they won the first two Serie A games unconvincingly, then drew with both Juventus and Lazio.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 12: Diego Moreira of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 12, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Diego Moreira came off the bench in that match and scored his first two goals for the club, but he is again left out here, as Davide Bartesaghi and Samuel Chukwueze take the wide roles.
Hutchinson made his debut at the weekend as a substitute and gets his first start, supporting teenage talent Cisse and Ramos, the Portuguese striker who came up through the Benfica academy.
Matteo Gabbia is still not fully fit, but Filippo Terracciano gets a rare run-out in defence to rest Mario Gila, while Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot are both rested, making way for Ardon Jashari and Yunus Musah.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 28: Goncalo Ramos of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Venezia FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Benfica have already played 12 matches this season and have a huge clash coming up domestically against FC Porto on Sunday, but have won seven on the bounce in all competition.
All of that prompts some squad rotation for coach Marco Silva after running several players into the ground.
Former Parma man Alessandro Circati gets a chance to shine in central defence, while Jonathan Tah is back in the squad after injury.
Alessandro Circati has completed his transfer from Parma to Benfica (slbenfica.pt) Ex-Juventus midfielder Enzo Barrenechea is rested in favour of Joao Palhinha, with former Roma defender Samuel Dahl starts and Andreas Schjelderup, who was targeted by several Serie A sides this summer, dropped to the bench.
Dodi Lukebakio, Georgiy Sudakov and Jhon Duran all step into the starting XI, resting Rafa Silva, Gianluca Prestianni and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Benfica have never beaten Milan in European competition, managing two draws and four defeats, including the 1963 and 1990 European Cup Finals.
They also have former Rossoneri star Manuel Rui Costa as their President.
NYON, SWITZERLAND – APRIL 12: Rui Costa of SL Benfica looks on during the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League semi-final and final draws at the UEFA headquarters on April 12, 2013 in Nyon, Switzerland. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images) Milan vs. Benfica line-ups Milan: Maignan; F Terracciano, De Winter, Pavlovic; Chukwueze, Musah, Jashari, Bartesaghi; Hutchinson, Cisse; Ramos
Milan bench: Torriani, Estupinan, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Rabiot, Modric, Moreira, Tomori, Mario Gila, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Camarda
Benfica: Trubin; Banjaqui, Circati, Araujo, El Karouani; Aursnes, Palhinha; Kaminski, Sudakov, Lukebakio; Duran
Benfica bench: Soares, Lenglet, Barrenechea, Pavlidis, Manu Silva, Barreiro, Schjelderup, Dahl, Rafa Silva, Echeverri, Anisio Cabral
Ref: Gillett (ENG)
16-09-2026 20:00
MatchDay 1
San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
Milan
Benfica
vs
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What happened
AC Milan and Benfica have released their official starting line-ups for their Europa League fixture. The confirmed XIs set the stage for the encounter, with both sides naming their available players for the European competition. Line-up announcements like this one are the final pre-match indicator of tactical intent and availability before kickoff.
Chance analysis
With both sets of starting XIs now confirmed, the tactical shape of this Europa League tie becomes clear. Milan and Benfica fans can now see exactly which players their managers have entrusted with the task, and the choices — particularly any unexpected inclusions or notable absences — will frame the narrative of the evening. Europa League nights carry genuine weight in the European football calendar, and the confirmed line-ups give the clearest read yet on how each side intends to approach the match.
Confirmed starting line-ups set the tactical framework for Milan's Europa League fixture against Benfica.