Sunderland's Trip to San Siro Highlights British Clubs' Europa League Draws

Sunderland’s 53-year wait for European football has delivered one of the continent’s great stages. Their reward: a trip to the San Siro to face AC Milan in the Europa League, with Bournemouth also drawing the seven-time European champions in their first-ever continental campaign.

The revamped league-phase draws for both the Europa League and Europa Conference League were made on Friday, mapping out a packed European calendar between September 2026 and January 2027.

Europa League: Milan, Marseille and heavyweight tests

Clubs in the Europa League will each play eight league-phase matches – four at home, four away – with British sides handed a mix of glamour and jeopardy.

Sunderland, back in Europe for the first time since 1973, have been thrown straight into the deep end. As well as that eye-catching away date with AC Milan, they will host AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia at the Stadium of Light, while travelling to Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense.

Bournemouth’s European debut is no gentle introduction either. The south coast club will welcome AC Milan to the Vitality Stadium in what promises to be a landmark night, and also host Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Their away schedule takes them to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta and Lillestrom.

Celtic, seasoned European campaigners, have been handed a draw rich in narrative. They will host Marseille, renew old European rhythms with a trip to Marco Silva’s Benfica, and also face Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia, Besiktas and Torreense across their eight fixtures.

Crystal Palace, last season’s Europa Conference League winners, step up a tier and immediately run into serious opposition. Selhurst Park will stage visits from Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan, Hoffenheim and Besiktas, while Palace must travel to Lyon, Salzburg and Jagiellonia.

Europa League fixtures – key dates

• Matchday 1: September 16/17
• Matchday 2: October 15
• Matchday 3: October 22
• Matchday 4: November 5
• Matchday 5: November 26
• Matchday 6: December 10
• Matchday 7: January 21, 2027
• Matchday 8: January 28, 2027

Knockout phase play-offs: February 18 & 25, 2027

Round of 16: March 11 & 18, 2027

Quarter-finals: April 8 & 15, 2027

Semi-finals: April 29 & May 6, 2027

Final: May 26, 2027 (Stadion Frankfurt, Germany)

British clubs’ Europa League schedules

Celtic:

• Marseille (H)
• Benfica (A)
• Ferencvaros (H)
• Union SG (A)
• Celta Vigo (H)
• Omonia (A)
• Besiktas (H)
• Torreense (A)

Sunderland:

• AZ Alkmaar (H)
• AC Milan (A)
• GNK Dinamo (H)
• Anderlecht (A)
• Jagiellonia (H)
• Lech Poznan (A)
• Levski Sofia (H)
• Torreense (A)

Bournemouth:

• AC Milan (H)
• Real Sociedad (A)
• Viktoria Plzen (H)
• Sparta Prague (A)
• Sturm Graz (H)
• Celta (A)
• Hapoel Be’er Sheva (H)
• Lillestrom (A)

Conference League: Brighton and Hearts draw Monaco

In the Europa Conference League, Brighton and Hearts both landed marquee meetings with Monaco in a draw that offers opportunity but very little comfort.

Brighton, in Europe for only the second time in their history after seeing off Tromso in qualifying, will again test their rapid rise. Fabian Hurzeler’s side face Monaco at home in what looks the standout fixture of their league phase, with demanding away trips to Panathinaikos and Getafe also on the slate.

Their full schedule includes home matches against Monaco, Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Zalgiris, and away games at Panathinaikos, Getafe and Jablonec.

Hearts, owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, will also host Monaco at Tynecastle in a tie that will light up Gorgie. The Edinburgh club have been handed a compelling clash with Trabzonspor, where Mohamed Salah and on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana are among the headline names. Pafos, Borac, Nordsjaelland and Thun complete a varied group of opponents.

Conference League fixtures – key dates

• Matchday 1: October 15
• Matchday 2: October 22
• Matchday 3: November 5
• Matchday 4: November 26
• Matchday 5: December 10
• Matchday 6: December 17

Conference League schedules

Brighton:

• Monaco (H)
• Panathinaikos (A)
• Universitatea Craiova (H)
• Getafe (A)
• Kauno Zalgiris (H)
• Jablonec (A)

Hearts:

• Monaco (H)
• Pafos (A)
• Borac (H)
• Trabzonspor (A)
• Nordsjaelland (H)
• Thun (A)

San Siro nights, Monaco under the lights, and a calendar packed with heavyweight names: for Sunderland, Bournemouth, Brighton and Hearts, the draw has done its job. The stage is set. Now comes the hard part.