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Sunderland's European Adventure: San Siro Awaits

Sunderland’s long wait for European football has been rewarded in the grandest way possible: a trip to AC Milan at San Siro. Bournemouth, on their first-ever continental adventure, will welcome the seven-time European champions to the south coast in a standout Europa League league-phase draw packed with heavyweight fixtures for British clubs.

The draws for both the Europa League and Europa Conference League were made on Friday, confirming a new-look league phase. Europa League sides will each play eight matches, Conference League teams six, split evenly home and away between September 2026 and January 2027.

Sunderland back in Europe – and straight to Milan

Fifty-three years after they last graced European competition, Sunderland are back – and they have been thrown straight into the deep end.

Their league-phase schedule includes a home tie against AZ Alkmaar and further Stadium of Light dates with GNK Dinamo, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia. On the road, they face Anderlecht, Lech Poznan, Torreense – and that marquee away day at AC Milan.

The San Siro trip will be the headline, but it’s a demanding programme all round for a club rebuilding its European identity after more than half a century away.

Sunderland’s Europa League fixtures:

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

Bournemouth’s debut brings AC Milan to the Vitality

For Bournemouth, this is all new. Their first European campaign, their first Europa League appearance – and their first home tie against AC Milan.

The Cherries’ league-phase draw is laced with established European names. Real Sociedad away, Sparta Prague away, Celta away. Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Lillestrom will all visit the Vitality Stadium, but it is the sight of Milan in Dorset that will define this campaign before a ball is kicked.

Bournemouth’s Europa League 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)

Celtic and Crystal Palace land heavyweight tests

Celtic, seasoned European campaigners, have been handed a varied and testing run of fixtures. They will host Marseille at Celtic Park in one of the standout ties of the league phase and travel to Marco Silva’s Benfica in Lisbon.

Home support will also see Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Besiktas come to Glasgow, while trips to Union SG, Omonia and Torreense complete a schedule that mixes glamour with potential pitfalls.

Celtic’s Europa League fixtures:

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

Crystal Palace, fresh from lifting last season’s Europa Conference League, step up into the Europa League as title holders from UEFA’s third competition – and their draw underlines that rise.

They will host LaLiga side Real Sociedad at Selhurst Park and travel to Lyon, two fixtures that jump off the page. Sparta Prague, Salzburg, Lech Poznan, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim and Besiktas round off a demanding league-phase slate.

Crystal Palace’s Europa League fixtures:

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

Europa League calendar set for 2026/27

The new league phase will run deep into winter, with eight matchdays before the knockout rounds:

  • 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 phase 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 plot Conference League runs

In the Europa Conference League, Brighton return to Europe for only the second time in their history after coming through qualifying against Tromso. Fabian Hurzeler’s side now face a league phase that offers both glamour and danger.

Their biggest test looks set to be Monaco at the Amex, a tie that will draw huge attention on the south coast. Away days at Panathinaikos in Greece and Getafe in Spain add real edge, while Universitatea Craiova, Kauno Zalgiris and Jablonec complete a group of opponents that should test squad depth and adaptability.

Brighton’s Conference League fixtures:

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

Hearts, owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, are also in the Conference League and share one of the headline fixtures: they too will host Monaco.

The Scottish Premiership side have been handed a compelling mix of opponents. They will travel to Pafos and Thun, host Borac and Nordsjaelland, and face a daunting away trip to Trabzonspor – a side featuring Mohamed Salah and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan.

Hearts’ Conference League fixtures:

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

Conference League schedule

The Conference League league phase will run over six matchdays:

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

From Sunderland’s San Siro pilgrimage to Bournemouth’s first European night under the lights, from Celtic’s reunion with Marseille to Brighton and Hearts sharing Monaco as a common foe, British clubs have been handed storylines everywhere you look.

Now the question is simple: who turns a glamorous draw into a deep run when Europe’s winter nights arrive?

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