Europa League Draw: AC Milan, Juventus Learn Foes As Sunderland Face San Siro Trip

AC Milan and Juventus have discovered their respective opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League league phase following Friday’s draw held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo.

According to Ireporter Online, both Italian giants were placed in Pot One and will play eight league-phase matches between September 2026 and January 2027, with each club scheduled to have four home and four away fixtures.

Juventus will welcome Real Sociedad, Rennes, Omonia Nicosia and NEC to their home ground, while their away fixtures will take them to AZ Alkmaar, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

AC Milan, meanwhile, will host Benfica, Ferencvaros, Sunderland and Ararat Armenia at the San Siro. The Rossoneri will travel to face Olympiacos, Red Bull Salzburg, Bournemouth and Levski Sofia.

The draw has also set up a memorable European return for Sunderland, who will make a historic trip to the San Siro to face Milan. The Black Cats are preparing for their first European campaign since 1973 after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season.

Bournemouth will also embark on their first European adventure and have been handed a challenging schedule that includes a trip to face Milan. The English club will also welcome Real Sociedad, while their other opponents include Viktoria Plzen, Sparta Prague, Sturm Graz, Celta Vigo, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Lillestrom.

Crystal Palace, who won the Conference League last season, will face Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim at home. Their away assignments include Lyon, Red Bull Salzburg, Jagiellonia and Besiktas.

Scottish champions Celtic, who moved into the Europa League after losing their Champions League play-off against LASK, will host Marseille, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Besiktas. They will travel to Benfica, Union Saint-Gilloise, Omonia and Torreense.

The Europa League league phase is scheduled to begin on September 16 and 17, 2026, before concluding on January 28, 2027. A total of 36 clubs will compete in a single league table, with each team playing eight matches.

The top eight sides will automatically advance to the round of 16, while teams finishing between ninth and 24th will compete in the knockout play-offs. The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated from European competition.

The knockout play-offs are scheduled for February 18 and 25, 2027, while the Europa League final will take place on May 26 at Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.

Meanwhile, Brighton and Hearts have also discovered their opponents for the Conference League league phase.

Brighton will host Monaco, Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Zalgiris and travel to face Panathinaikos, Getafe and Jablonec.

Hearts will welcome Monaco, Borac and Nordsjaelland to Tynecastle before travelling to Pafos, Trabzonspor and Thun.

The Conference League league phase will begin on October 15, with each club playing six matches, comprising three home fixtures and three away games.