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Sunderland's Historic San Siro Trip in Europa League

Sunderland’s return to Europe after more than half a century will take them to one of football’s great cathedrals. Fifty-three years on from their last continental adventure, they will walk out at San Siro to face AC Milan in the Europa League – the standout fixture of a landmark campaign for the club.

Bournemouth, making their first-ever appearance in European competition, have drawn the same illustrious opponents. The Serie A giants will head to the south coast as the Vitality Stadium prepares for a night unlike anything it has staged before.

The revamped league-phase draws for both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League were made on Friday. Europa League clubs will each play eight games, four home and four away, between September 2026 and January 2027. Conference League sides will play six, split evenly home and away, across the same period.

British clubs’ Europa League paths

Celtic, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace all discovered demanding but enticing schedules.

Celtic’s eight-game run includes a glamour tie at home to Marseille and a trip to Marco Silva’s Benfica. The Scottish champions will also host Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Besiktas at Celtic Park, while travelling to Union SG, Omonia and Torreense.

Celtic fixtures:

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

Sunderland’s long-awaited European return is laced with variety and jeopardy. Alongside that headline visit to AC Milan, they welcome AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia to Wearside. Away days at Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense complete a demanding schedule.

Sunderland fixtures:

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

Bournemouth’s maiden European campaign is anything but gentle. AC Milan come to Dorset, while trips to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague and Celta Vigo promise hostile atmospheres. Home ties against Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, plus an away game at Lillestrom, round off a varied first taste of Europe.

Bournemouth fixtures:

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

Crystal Palace, fresh from winning last season’s Conference League, step up a level with a slate that underlines their new status. Selhurst Park will host Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan, Hoffenheim and Besiktas. On the road, Palace face Lyon, Salzburg and Jagiellonia.

Crystal Palace fixtures:

  • Real Sociedad (H)
  • Lyon (A)
  • Sparta Prague (H)
  • Salzburg (A)
  • Lech Poznan (H)
  • Jagiellonia (A)
  • Hoffenheim (H)
  • Besiktas (A)

Europa League calendar confirmed

The league phase unfolds at pace:

  • 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

From there, the knockout drama takes over:

  • 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

Brighton and Hearts handed Monaco tests in Conference League

In the Europa Conference League, Brighton and Hearts both drew Monaco – a marquee tie for clubs still writing their early European chapters.

Brighton are in Europe for only the second time in their history, having beaten Tromso in qualifying to reach the league phase. Fabian Hurzeler’s side will view Monaco’s visit to the south coast as their biggest examination, but the challenges do not stop there. A trip to Panathinaikos in Greece and an away date at LaLiga side Getafe stand out among a schedule that also includes Universitatea Craiova, Kauno Zalgiris and Jablonec.

Brighton fixtures:

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

Hearts, owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, will also welcome Monaco to Edinburgh. Their campaign features a high-profile clash with Trabzonspor, where Mohamed Salah and on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana provide star power. Pafos, Borac, Nordsjaelland and Thun complete a group that looks competitive from top to bottom.

Hearts fixtures:

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

Conference League dates

The Conference League league phase runs slightly later into December:

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

For Sunderland and Bournemouth, it’s the start of something new. For Celtic, Palace, Brighton and Hearts, it’s another chance to stretch their ambitions across the continent. Now the draw is done, only one question really matters: who will still be standing when Europe reaches its sharp end in 2027?

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