AC Milan is gearing up for a crucial match against Benfica in the Europa League as part of the 2026-2027 season. After a disappointing end to the last season, where they lost six out of their last ten Serie A matches, Milan's management swiftly made changes by appointing Ruben Amorim as head coach. The team is currently unbeaten this season, having secured victories against Torino and Venezia, while managing draws against Juventus and Lazio.

Despite their struggles in recent years, Milan is determined to return to European competition after being eliminated in the Champions League play-offs during the 2024-2025 season. Amorim, who has a history with Benfica as a former player, aims to leverage his experience to lead Milan to success. Historically, Benfica has struggled against Milan, failing to secure a win in their six official encounters, including two European C1 Cup finals.

On the other hand, Benfica has also had a rocky season, finishing third in the Primeira Liga under former coach Jose Mourinho. New manager Marco Silva has since taken over and is looking to establish a new era for the club. After an unexpected loss to St. Gallen in the first leg of the qualifying round, Benfica bounced back with a decisive 5-0 victory in the second leg and continued their strong performance by defeating Hearts and AGF to reach the group stage.

Benfica has been in excellent form recently, winning their last four matches and scoring a total of 12 goals. Their latest victory came against Gil Vicente, where they clinched a 3-1 win, extending their winning streak to seven games across all competitions. However, the team faces a challenging schedule ahead, with consecutive away games against AC Milan and Porto.

In terms of personnel, Ruben Amorim may consider rotating the squad, but it is expected that AC Milan will stick with their familiar 3-4-2-1 formation. The home side has few injury concerns, with Mattia Gabbia and Mario Gila recovering from minor injuries. Conversely, Benfica will be without Alexander Bah due to a shoulder injury, which may lead to adjustments in their lineup.

The match between AC Milan and Benfica is scheduled for 2:00 AM on September 17 (Vietnam time), promising to be an exciting encounter as both teams seek to assert their dominance in the Europa League.