AC Milan vs Benfica Prediction, Lineups and How to Watch

Christian Pulisic is the main individual storyline as AC Milan open their UEFA Europa League campaign against Benfica on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the match scheduled for 8:00 p.m. WAT at San Siro.

Match	AC Milan vs Benfica
Competition	UEFA Europa League
Stage	League Phase, Matchday 1
Date	Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Kickoff Time (WAT)	8:00 p.m. WAT / 7:00 p.m. GMT
Location	Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
TV Channel	SuperSport MaXimo 1
Live Stream	DStv Now

Ruben Amorim will lead Milan into his first European match as head coach. The Rossoneri have avoided defeat across their previous five games, while the Portuguese visitors arrive with a longer unbeaten sequence heading into the opening round of the league phase.

The fixture brings together two clubs with extensive European histories at San Siro. Milan have the stronger historical record in meetings between the sides, but the current campaign begins with both managers working with new expectations after changes in their respective dugouts.

AC Milan vs Benfica Kickoff Time in Nigeria

The fixture starts at 8:00 p.m. WAT, which is 7:00 p.m. GMT for Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Mali. The venue is Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, commonly known as San Siro.

The original US listing gives a 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff. September 16 falls inside the US daylight saving period, so the five-hour difference produces the 8:00 p.m. WAT start used for West African readers.

AC Milan vs Benfica TV Channel and Live Stream

SuperSport MaXimo 1 is listed for Nigeria, with DStv Now carrying the corresponding stream. US viewers have CBS Sports Network and Paramount+ available for the match.

AC Milan vs Benfica Team News and Injuries

Pulisic has played 45 minutes in Serie A this season and provided an assist against Lazio. He is not projected to start, leaving his European involvement from the bench as the expected scenario.

AC Milan vs Benfica Predicted Lineups

Amorim’s expected selection uses a 3-4-2-1, with Goncalo Ramos leading the attack and Alphadjo Cisse alongside Ruben Loftus-Cheek underneath him. Pervis Estupinan and Diego Moreira are the projected wide midfielders, with Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric inside.

AC Milan Predicted Lineup and Formation

Manager: Ruben Amorim Formation: 3-4-2-1 Predicted XI:

		ST  Goncalo Ramos
	AM  Alphadjo Cisse		AM  Ruben Loftus-Cheek
LM  Pervis Estupinan	CM  Adrien Rabiot		CM  Luka Modric	RM  Diego Moreira
CB  Strahinja Pavlovic		CB  Koni De Winter		CB  Mario Gila
		GK  Mike Maignan

Marco Silva’s Benfica is projected in a 4-2-3-1. Vangelis Pavlidis leads the line, supported by Andreas Schjelderup, Gianluca Prestianni and Dodi Lukebakio. Joao Palhinha and Enzo Barrenechea sit behind that attacking group.

Benfica Predicted Lineup and Formation

Manager: Marco Silva Formation: 4-2-3-1 Predicted XI:

		ST  Vangelis Pavlidis
LW  Andreas Schjelderup		AM  Gianluca Prestianni		RW  Dodi Lukebakio
	CM  Joao Palhinha		CM  Enzo Barrenechea
LB  Samuel Dahl	CB  Clement Lenglet		CB  Tomas Araujo	RB  Daniel Banjaqui
		GK  Samuel Soares

AC Milan vs Benfica Head to Head Record

The clubs have met seven times in UEFA’s historical record. Milan have four wins and Benfica have none, while the other three encounters ended level. The most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw in Lisbon in November 2007.

Two earlier Champions League meetings in 2007 produced a 2-1 Milan win at San Siro and a 1-1 draw in Lisbon. Their 1995 quarter-final also went Milan’s way, with a 2-0 home win followed by a goalless second leg.

AC Milan vs Benfica Form Guide

Milan’s five-match unbeaten run includes draws with Juventus and Lazio in the last two fixtures. Benfica’s 12-match unbeaten sequence is longer, and the Portuguese side has scored three goals in eight of its last 10 games.

For Milan, the central selection issue is how Amorim balances the front attacking positions while Pulisic remains short of full match rhythm. Ramos is the expected reference point, with Cisse and Loftus-Cheek positioned behind him.

Benfica’s shape gives Pavlidis the central attacking role, while the two midfielders are expected to provide cover for the advanced trio. Alexander Bah is unavailable because of a shoulder injury, so 18-year-old Daniel Banjaqui is expected to occupy the right-back position. No Milan injuries or suspensions are listed in the available team information.