Porto opened the scoring through Gabri Veiga before Benfica equalized with Alexander Bah’s header. However, the hosts quickly regained the lead through Froholdt and then extended their advantage with Hwang In-beom, putting the match firmly in their control.

Benfica tried to avoid further damage, while Porto remained composed with their numerical advantage and two-goal lead. Porto ultimately secured a convincing 3-1 victory to take all three points from the clash.

Pulisic’s omission from today’s starting XI is purely tactical; he is not nursing an injury. Given Milan‘s squad depth, Amorim elected to hand the start to Omari Hutchinson on the wing instead.

Pulisic has yet to establish himself as a central figure under Amorim this season. His only appearance so far came as a substitute in last week’s 2-2 Serie A draw against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

With TV details and kickoff times locked in for U.S. viewers, Milan and Benfica are primed to deliver a compelling spectacle on the pitch in Milan. The matchup carries immense European pedigree, bringing together two iconic clubs with rich continental histories seeking a strong start to their group-stage campaign.

Confirmed lineup for Milan

Without Pulisic in the starting side—but with veteran Luka Modric wearing the captain’s armband—Milan aim to kick off their quest for the Europa League title on the right foot. Here is how the Rossoneri will line up against Benfica:

• Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
• Defenders: Filippo Terracciano, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlovic
• Midfielders: Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah, Ardon Jashari, Davide Bartesaghi
• Attacking Midfielders: Omari Hutchinson, Alphadjo Cisse
• Forward: Goncalo Ramos

Depending on how the match unfolds, Pulisic could prove to be a crucial option off the bench as Milan pursue their first three points of the group stage. The American winger already has one assist and one yellow card to his name in Serie A play this season.

How to watch Milan vs Benfica in the USA

Milan vs Benfica will be available to watch live in the United States on CBS Sports Network. Also, the match will be streamed through Fubo, Paramount+ and DAZN USA.

Can I watch Milan vs Benfica for free?

Fans in the USA can watch Milan vs Benfica for free with Fubo‘s current 5-day free-trial offer, provided they are eligible for the promotion.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

AC Milan and Benfica meet at San Siro on Wednesday, September 16, in Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League league phase.

Both clubs enter the competition with ambitions of making a deep run, but the new league-phase format means every result from the opening matchday can become important later: each team will play eight league-phase matches, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16 and teams finishing from ninth to 24th going into the knockout play-offs.

For Milan, the match represents a particularly important European return. The Rossoneri missed out on continental competition last season and are now back in the Europa League under Ruben Amorim, who was appointed during the summer.

Milan have started the new Serie A campaign unbeaten, with two wins and two draws from their first four games, including a 2-2 comeback draw against Lazio in their most recent match.

Amorim has also emphasized the importance of beginning the European campaign strongly, with Benfica representing one of the most demanding opponents in Milan’s league-phase schedule.

Benfica arrive at San Siro with plenty of European experience and an attack in good form. The Portuguese club are making their 24th appearance in the Europa League, compared with Milan’s 14th, and have won their last five domestic matches. Their latest result was a 3-1 victory over Gil Vicente, with Vangelis Pavlidis scoring twice before Gianluca Prestianni added a late third goal.

Milan vs Benfica: Predicted Lineups

AC Milan (3-4-2-1): Mike Maignan; Strahinja Pavlovic, Matteo Gabbia, Koni De Winter; Diego Moreira, Yunus Musah, Luka Modric, Samuel Chukwueze; Christian Pulisic, Alphadjo Cisse; Goncalo Ramos.

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Samuel Soares; Samuel Dahl, Clement Lenglet, Tomas Araujo, Diogo Banjaqui; Joao Palhinha, Leandro Barreiro; Andreas Schjelderup, Gianluca Prestianni, Rafa Silva; Vangelis Pavlidis.

What time is the Milan vs Benfica match?

The Milan vs Benfica match kicks off on Wednesday, September 16, at 3:00 PM ET. The game is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time in Milan at San Siro. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 3:00 PM
• Central Time: 2:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 1:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 12:00 PM

How to watch Benfica vs Gil Vicente in the USA

Benfica vs. Gil Vicente is scheduled to be available to viewers in the United States through Fubo and beIN SPORTS CONNECT.

Can I watch Benfica vs Gil Vicente for free?

Viewers in the United States can watch Benfica vs Gil Vicente for free with a Fubo 5-day free trial, provided the trial option is available when they sign up. The service currently lists the Primeira Liga matchup on its platform.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Benfica head into the September 13 clash with Gil Vicente looking to maintain their strong start to the 2026-27 Primeira Liga campaign. Playing at the Estadio da Luz gives Bruno Lage’s side an important home advantage, but the matchup comes at a demanding point in the calendar, with Benfica also preparing for their upcoming European commitments.

A positive result would allow Benfica to keep pressure on the teams competing at the top of the table while extending their momentum in the early stages of the season.

Gil Vicente, meanwhile, have an opportunity to make a statement against one of Portugal’s traditional powers. The visitors will need to be disciplined defensively and make the most of their chances if they are to leave Lisbon with points.

The fixture is particularly significant because Benfica have historically been among the league’s strongest sides, making every point against them valuable for a Gil Vicente team trying to establish itself in the upper portion of the Primeira Liga standings.

The matchup also adds another chapter to a fixture that has generally favored Benfica. In their most recent meeting, Benfica defeated Gil Vicente 2-1, with Andreas Schjelderup scoring in that encounter. The Lisbon side will now look to turn that recent head-to-head advantage into another three-point result in front of their home supporters.

Benfica vs Gil Vicente: Predicted Lineups

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Samuel Soares; Samuel Dahl, Clement Lenglet, Tomas Araujo, Jakub Kaminski; Joao Palhinha, Leandro Barreiro; Gianluca Prestianni, Heorhiy Sudakov, Rafa Silva; Vangelis Pavlidis.

Gil Vicente (4-2-3-1): Lucao; Weverson, Marvin Elimbi, Jonathan Buatu, Ricardo Esgaio; Diogo Prioste, Ze Carlos; Joelson Fernandes, Gil Martins, Murilo de Souza; Hector Hernandez.

What time is the Benfica vs Gil Vicente match?

The Benfica vs Gil Vicente match kicks off on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 PM ET in the United States. The official schedule lists the match for 6:00 PM local time in Portugal at the Estadio da Luz, which corresponds to 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

• Eastern Time: 1:00 PM
• Central Time: 12:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 11:00 AM
• Pacific Time: 10:00 AM

How to watch Maritimo vs Benfica in the USA

Maritimo vs. Benfica will be available in the United States on beIN SPORTS en Español, with the match also available through Fubo and beIN SPORTS CONNECT.

Can I watch Maritimo vs Benfica for free?

Yes, eligible new Fubo subscribers can use a 5-day free trial to watch Maritimo vs. Benfica. The platform’s current listing for the match includes a “Try for free” option and confirms that the game is available through the service.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Maritimo return to the Primeira Liga stage with a demanding test at Estadio do Maritimo, where Benfica are the visitors for Matchday 5. The Madeira side have made a respectable start after earning promotion back to Portugal’s top flight, collecting seven points from their first four league games.

Their latest setback, however, came in a 2-1 defeat away to Arouca, making Saturday’s home fixture an opportunity to respond immediately. Benfica arrive with a stronger early record and plenty of attacking momentum.

The Eagles have seven points from their first three league matches, including a 2-1 win over Estoril in their most recent Primeira Liga outing. Vangelis Pavlidis has been one of the main difference-makers, with five goals putting him at the top of the league’s scoring chart heading into the trip to Madeira.

The numbers also underline the challenge facing Maritimo. Benfica have dominated this matchup historically, with 27 wins in 32 recorded meetings, compared with four for Maritimo and one draw.

The Lisbon club have also won their last six encounters with Maritimo, meaning the hosts will need to break a significant recent trend if they are to take points from one of Portugal‘s traditional powers.

Maritimo vs Benfica: Predicted Lineups

Maritimo (4-2-3-1): Alfonso Pastor; Igor Juliao, Rafael Fernandes, Romain Correia, Paulo Henrique; Vladan Danilovic, Rodrigo Andrade; Martin Tejon, Raphael Guzzo, Boli Limbombe; Patrick Butzke.

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Samuel Soares; Alexander Bah, Tomas Araujo, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Dahl; Enzo Barrenechea, Leandro Barreiro; Rafa Silva, Georgiy Sudakov, Gianluca Prestianni; Vangelis Pavlidis.

What time is the Maritimo vs Benfica match?

The Maritimo vs. Benfica match kicks off Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 PM ET in the United States. The official Benfica and Maritimo schedules list the match for 6:00 PM local time in Portugal at Estadio do Maritimo.

• Eastern Time: 1:00 PM
• Central Time: 12:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 11:00 AM
• Pacific Time: 10:00 AM

How to watch Casa Pia vs Benfica in the USA

Casa Pia vs. Benfica will be available in the United States through beIN SPORTS, with streaming options including beIN SPORTS CONNECT and Fubo. The match is also listed on beIN SPORTS en Español.

Can I watch Casa Pia vs Benfica for free?

Yes! Fubo offers a 5-day free trial, allowing eligible new subscribers to watch Casa Pia vs. Benfica for free during the trial period. After the trial ends, the subscription becomes paid unless canceled.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Casa Pia and Benfica meet in Matchday 2 of the 2026-27 Liga Portugal season, making this one of the first opportunities for both sides to establish momentum in the new campaign.

Benfica began the season at home against newly promoted Academico de Viseu, while Casa Pia entered the second round looking to respond after their opening fixture. Benfica’s official schedule confirms Casa Pia as its second league opponent of the campaign.

The matchup carries extra intrigue because Benfica have not had an easy time against Casa Pia in recent meetings. Their previous league encounter, played on April 6, 2026, ended 1-1, with Richard Rios putting Benfica ahead in the 68th minute before Rafael Brito equalized ten minutes later. That result came at the same Rio Maior venue where Monday’s game will be played.

Casa Pia also produced one of the biggest recent surprises in this fixture when they defeated Benfica 3-1 at home on January 25, 2025. Benfica took an early lead through Angel Di Maria, but Casa Pia turned the game around through Cassiano, Nuno Moreira and Jeremy Livolant.

The recent head-to-head record therefore gives Casa Pia reason to believe it can trouble one of Portugal’s traditional powers. Benfica, meanwhile, will be looking to avoid another dropped result against a team that has already demonstrated it can make the most of home advantage in this matchup.

Casa Pia vs Benfica: Predicted Lineups

Casa Pia (4-1-2-3): Andre Gomes; Abdu Conte, Kaly, David Sousa, Andre Geraldes; Lawrence Ofori; Sebastian Perez, Gabi; Rochinha, Henrique Araujo, Kevin Prieto.

Benfica (4-2-3-1): Samuel Soares; Samuel Dahl, Clement Lenglet, Tomas Araujo, Alexander Bah; Leandro Barreiro, Enzo Barrenechea; Andreas Schjelderup, Rafa Silva, Gianluca Prestianni; Vangelis Pavlidis.

What time is the Casa Pia vs Benfica match?

The Casa Pia vs. Benfica match kicks off today, Monday, August 17, at 3:15 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 3:15 PM
• Central Time: 2:15 PM
• Mountain Time: 1:15 PM
• Pacific Time: 12:15 PM

How to watch Benfica vs Academico Viseu in the USA

Fans will be able to watch this match on TV channels beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Espanol, but there are also streaming options where they can catch the game, which are fuboTV, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, and Benfica TV INT.

Can I watch Benfica vs Academico Viseu for free?

Yes, you can watch Benfica vs Academico Viseu for free in the USA by signing up for Fubo‘s 5-day free trial, provided you are an eligible new subscriber. The trial includes access to the channels carrying the match.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Benfica sit in third place in the standings and head into this league debut with mixed feelings. Their close to last season included two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five matches, an irregular performance for a club with its aspirations.

However, at home, the story was different: 11 wins and six draws without knowing defeat in the league. With Marco Silva in charge, the goal is to turn that domestic solidity into general consistency.

Academico Viseu return to the first division after securing promotion as runners-up of Liga Portugal 2. The team managed by Rui Ferreira has been characterized by a solid and pragmatic defensive approach, a key tool to compete in a higher tier. And they look to start on the right foot against one of the heavyweights.

What time is the Benfica vs Academico Viseu match?

The Primeira Liga match will be played on Saturday, August 9, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 PM ET. Here are the kickoff times across the United States:

• Eastern Time (ET): 3:30 PM
• Central Time (CT): 2:30 PM
• Mountain Time (MT): 1:30 PM
• Pacific Time (PT): 12:30 PM

The Portuguese giants return to European action looking to move one step closer to the league phase, while St. Gallen hopes to capitalize on home-field advantage against one of the competition’s most accomplished clubs. Italian referee Luca Pairetto will oversee the first meeting between the two sides.

Unlike a knockout match decided in a single game, today’s contest is only the opening chapter of a two-legged series. The outcome will shape the tie heading into the return leg at Estádio da Luz, where the aggregate winner will be determined.

What happens if Benfica beat St. Gallen?

If Benfica win today, they will take an aggregate lead into the second leg at Estádio da Luz on July 30. However, the Portuguese club would not qualify for the next round today.

The overall winner will only be determined after both legs are completed, meaning Benfica would still need to protect or improve their advantage in the return match, and in this scenario, St. Gallen would head into the second leg at a disadvantage.

What happens if Benfica and St. Gallen tie?

If today’s match ends in a draw, everything will remain to be decided in the second leg in Lisbon. With the aggregate score level, both teams would enter the return match with an equal chance of advancing, making next week’s meeting the decisive contest in the tie.

What happens if Benfica lose today?

If Benfica lose the first leg, St. Gallen would take the advantage into the return fixture, leaving Benfica needing to overturn the aggregate deficit at home. Even in defeat, Benfica would remain alive in the competition because qualification is determined by the combined score across both matches.

Only after the second leg will it be decided whether Benfica advance to the Europa League third qualifying round or drops into the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round.

The striker was already loaned out to Fenerbahce before landing in Zenit St. Petersburg, and now moves to Benfica on a one-season loan deal. The agreement was reached with Al Nassr, the club owning his sports rights, with whom he maintains an active contract through June 2030.

Al Nassr confirmed the move on social media. Although Duran’s name was closely linked to Galatasaray in Turkey during the opening weeks of the transfer window, the Colombian ultimately chose to accept Benfica’s offer. There, he will team up with Richard Rios, who is also a member of Colombia.

Duran’s first words as a new player

In his first words as a Benfica player, Jhon Jader Duran expressed gratitude for the support received from the fans. Furthermore, he assured that he will seek to respond to the fans’ affection with strong performances on the pitch.

The arrival of the forward generates high expectations in Portuguese soccer thanks to his physical traits, finishing ability, and overall potential. Benfica hope the Colombian can become an important piece for the new season.

Over the last six months, Duran made 16 appearances split between Fenerbahce and Zenit—a stat that reflects a recent lack of continuity. Now, he will look to log playing time and recover the form he displayed in previous stages.

Duran’s clubs

The attacker’s career has seen rapid acceleration, changing clubs several times over the last three years. Aston Villa, Al Nassr, Fenerbahce, and Zenit form part of a journey that now adds a new chapter with Benfica.

How to watch Benfica vs Flamengo in the USA

Fans in the United States can watch this matchup live on Premiere, which will provide coverage of the game from start to finish.

Premiere is the streaming service carrying this matchup, giving fans the opportunity to enjoy every minute of what promises to be an exciting contest

Can I watch Benfica vs Flamengo for free?

Fans in the United States can catch this highly anticipated matchup live on Premier Sports, the exclusive broadcaster carrying the action.

Since Premier does not offer a free trial, viewers will need an active subscription to watch the game, meaning the match will not be available to stream for free.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Benfica begin a new era under Marco Silva following José Mourinho’s move to Real Madrid, with the Portuguese side playing its first match since last season after significant roster changes.

Flamengo, meanwhile, are further along in their preparations under Leonardo Jardim, having already posted a 2-2 draw with River Plate and a 2-0 victory over Lausanne–Sport this month.

With experienced players such as Rossi, Léo Ortiz, Pedro, Bruno Henrique, Samuel Lino, and Jorginho, the Brazilian club enters the matchup with greater continuity and match fitness.

What time is the Benfica vs Flamengo match?

The match kicks off today, July 11, at 2:30 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 2:30 PM
Central Time: 1:30 PM
Mountain Time: 12:30 PM
Pacific Time: 11:30 AM

Argentine transfer insider Cesar Luis Merlo reported on the radio program Vorterix that talks are “very advanced” for Otamendi to join River Plate on an 18-month deal, following the tournament in North America.

However, Benfica won’t let him go easily. The Portuguese club is expected to do everything possible to extend his stay beyond June 30. Despite his age, Otamendi has evolved into a vital leader for the Eagles, and the front office has no intention of simply letting him walk away.

Mourinho on Otamendi’s future

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho—who has yet to define his own future for next season amid rumors of a return to Real Madrid—admitted that Otamendi has earned the right to choose his own path.

“I think it depends only on him,” Mourinho said during a press conference on Friday, April 24. “There are people who have the right to choose their future based on everything they have built in the game. Otamendi is one of them. He played his final game for the national team on Argentine soil by his own choice, he will retire from international play after the World Cup by his own choice, and it will be his decision to play for River Plate or stay at Benfica“.

A growing trend of returning stars

If Otamendi eventually makes the move to River Plate, he’ll be joining a growing list of Messi’s international teammates who have traded European glory for a return to the roots where their careers began.

The trend kicked off with Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña. Following their 2022 World Cup triumph, both defenders opted to leave Sevilla in 2024 to bolster River Plate’s backline. That same year, German Pezzella followed suit, making the jump from Real Betis to reunite with Montiel and Acuña in Buenos Aires.

In 2025, the legendary Angel Di Maria added his name to the list. The winger moved on from Benfica to return to his boyhood club, Rosario Central, turning down lucrative offers from across the globe to play in front of his home crowd once again.

Most recently, Leandro Paredes made headlines by leaving AS Roma to rejoin Boca Juniors, where he currently serves as the club’s captain and undisputed leader. Heavy rumors are swirling that Paulo Dybala could reunite with Paredes after the 2026 World Cup—but this time in Argentina rather than Europe.