AC Milan vs SL Benfica: Little to Separate the Quality

The Europa League, European club football's second-tier competition, finally returns for a new season. With three English sides involved, the squad valuations and the strength of the field suggest the gap to the Champions League is getting smaller.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated fixture of the opening round on 16 and 17 September is AC Milan's meeting with Benfica at San Siro. Both competed in the first season of the Champions League's new format, finishing 13th and 16th respectively in the league phase before entering the play-offs for a place in the last 16.

Milan missed out on the Champions League last season, while Benfica fell short of expectations in the league phase. The Portuguese side entered the play-offs in 24th place, only to lose both legs against Real Madrid, 1-0 and 2-1, ending their European campaign.

This season, both are targeting a run all the way to the Europa League final in Frankfurt.

Those hoping to experience the match at San Siro can view available Milan vs Benfica tickets on Seatpin.

Amorim Faces Benfica Again

Rúben Amorim's success at Sporting CP persuaded Manchester United to pay a substantial compensation fee to bring him to Old Trafford. This season, his task is to make Milan a major force again.

The young Portuguese coach ended Porto and Benfica's 18-season stranglehold on the title by leading Sporting to the championship in 2021. He repeated that success in 2023/24, finishing a full 10 points clear of nearest challengers Benfica.

Sporting then won their opening 11 league matches of the following campaign under Amorim before he left for Manchester United. Sporting went on to retain the title, finishing two points ahead of his former club Benfica.

In the seasons he led Sporting to the title, Amorim beat Benfica at home in the league but lost away. Now facing them again, he will be looking to make home advantage count.

Milan have started well in Serie A, taking seven points from three matches, and are being talked about as title contenders both domestically and in the Europa League. Just as Amorim restored Sporting to the summit of Portuguese football, Milan are trusting their new coach to re-establish them among the leading sides in Italy and Europe.

The Rossoneri now have the chance to show what they can do in the standout fixture of the Europa League's opening round.

Milan vs Benfica Tickets

Following José Mourinho's departure for Real Madrid, Benfica began life under Marco Silva with a 2-2 home draw against Académico de Viseu. Four successive wins have since taken them to 13 points, with an impressive 16 goals across those victories despite three of the four matches being away from home.

Pavlidis already has 12 goals, scoring six in five Europa League qualifying appearances and another six in five Portuguese league matches.

Unlike Milan, who qualified directly for the league phase, Benfica came through three qualifying rounds. Their form gives the Italians plenty to worry about.

Benfica could not get the better of Amorim in his final season in the Portuguese league, but the Eagles now have a chance to exact revenge on him in the Europa League.

AC Milan vs SL Benfica tickets are now on sale on Seatpin for supporters planning to attend the fixture.