Rafael Nogueira
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AC Milan host Benfica in the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday 16 September 2026, and our predicted lineups for the tie highlight a sharp contrast in how each coach has been able to rotate. Ruben Amorim’s side have leaned on the same core group across a small run of matches, while Marco Silva has had a longer sample of Benfica fixtures to draw from. Both teams still look settled heading into kick-off, even if the depth of evidence behind each expected XI is not quite equal.
AC Milan Predicted XI
AC Milan are projected in a 3-4-2-1, which is Ruben Amorim’s preferred shape. This is a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match, underlining how consistent selection has been across the four fixtures used for this projection. Mike Maignan has started all four of those games and is an obvious pick in goal, while further forward Gonçalo Ramos has also started every one of them, making him the clearest lock in the front line. Everyone else in the projected XI has started at least two of the last three matches, which points to a settled group rather than one built on a single data point.
AC Milan predicted XI: Mike Maignan; Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic, Mario Gila; Luka Modrić, Pervis Estupinan, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Samuel Chukwueze, Alphadjo Cissè, Adrien Rabiot; Gonçalo Ramos
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 4 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 16 | Mike Maignan | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 5 | Koni De Winter | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 31 | Strahinja Pavlovic | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| D | 34 | Mario Gila | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| M | 14 | Luka Modrić | 3/4 | 3/3 |
| M | 2 | Pervis Estupinan | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Ruben Loftus-Cheek | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 21 | Samuel Chukwueze | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 70 | Alphadjo Cissè | 3/4 | 2/3 |
| M | 12 | Adrien Rabiot | 2/4 | 2/3 |
| F | 9 | Gonçalo Ramos | 4/4 | 3/3 |
Benfica Predicted Lineup
Benfica’s expected XI is set up in Marco Silva’s usual 4-2-3-1, built from six recent matches rather than four. It is also a settled side – 11 of the projected XI started their last match, and that stability runs deep given the larger sample behind it. Clément Lenglet has started all six games used here, and up front Vangelis Pavlidis has done the same, making both near-certainties barring a late change. The rest of the midfield and defence largely mirrors recent selection, though a couple of names have fewer starts across the sample and could be more exposed to rotation than the two standouts above.
Benfica predicted XI: Samuel Soares; Clément Lenglet, Samuel Dahl, Tomás Araújo, Daniel Banjaqui; Leandro Barreiro, Gianluca Prestianni, Rafa Silva, Enzo Barrenechea, Andreas Schjelderup; Vangelis Pavlidis
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 6 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 24 | Samuel Soares | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 2 | Clément Lenglet | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 26 | Samuel Dahl | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 44 | Tomás Araújo | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| D | 58 | Daniel Banjaqui | 2/6 | 2/3 |
| M | 18 | Leandro Barreiro | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 25 | Gianluca Prestianni | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 27 | Rafa Silva | 6/6 | 3/3 |
| M | 5 | Enzo Barrenechea | 4/6 | 1/3 |
| M | 21 | Andreas Schjelderup | 2/6 | 2/3 |
| F | 14 | Vangelis Pavlidis | 6/6 | 3/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
For AC Milan, no absentees are recorded in the data, so no single line of the predicted lineup looks thinned by team news. If Amorim does want to freshen things up, Yunus Musah is the bench option with the most recent starts among the alternatives listed, making him the most likely change should one be made.
Benfica’s team news is more pointed: Alexander Bah is out injured, which thins the defensive options given his listed position. On the bench, Heorhii Sudakov has the most starts of any available alternative and looks the best-placed player to be recalled into Marco Silva’s plans if changes are needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Bah | D | injured | Wound |
Where These Predictions Come From
Each expected XI here is built from that team’s own recent line-ups – four matches for AC Milan and six for Benfica – with more recent games weighted more heavily than older ones. Any player confirmed as injured or suspended has been removed from contention before the XI is built. This remains a projection, not an official announcement, and it can change once each club confirms its actual team news closer to kick-off.
Read also: Milan vs Benfica Prediction: 16.09.2026 UEFA Europa League
Read also: Milan vs Benfica Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form (Updated September 2026)
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for AC Milan and Benfica?
Mike Maignan is projected in goal for AC Milan, having started all four of the matches used in this projection, while Samuel Soares is expected to start for Benfica after doing the same across six matches.
What formation are AC Milan and Benfica expected to use?
AC Milan are projected in a 3-4-2-1 under Ruben Amorim, while Benfica are set up in Marco Silva’s usual 4-2-3-1.
Who is unavailable for AC Milan vs Benfica?
No absentees are recorded for AC Milan in this data, while Benfica are without Alexander Bah, who is out injured.
When does AC Milan vs Benfica kick off?
The UEFA Europa League fixture between AC Milan and Benfica kicks off on Wednesday 16 September 2026.