Sunderland and Bournemouth Draw AC Milan in Europa League

Sunderland’s long wait for European football has been rewarded with one of the great away days. After 53 years out of continental competition, they will walk out at the San Siro to face AC Milan in the Europa League.

Bournemouth, making their first-ever appearance in Europe, also get a meeting with the Italian giants. Their tie comes on the south coast, Milan heading to the Vitality Stadium in what will be a landmark night for the club.

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

Celtic, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Palace learn Europa League path

Celtic’s schedule is loaded with big names and awkward trips. They will host Marseille and welcome Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo and Besiktas to Glasgow, while travelling to Benfica, Union SG, Omonia and Torreense.

Sunderland’s return to Europe is as demanding as it is enticing. They host AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia at the Stadium of Light, and must travel to AC Milan, Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense.

Bournemouth’s debut campaign has a similar edge. AC Milan, Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva all come to the south coast, with Andoni Iraola’s side heading to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta and Lillestrom.

Crystal Palace, last season’s Europa Conference League winners, step up a level with a slate that underlines their rise. Selhurst Park will stage visits from Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan, Hoffenheim and Besiktas, while Palace are on the road at Lyon, Salzburg and Jagiellonia.

Europa League key dates

The league phase runs deep into winter:

• Matchday 1: September 16/17, 2026
• 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

Then comes the knockout push:

• 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

For Sunderland and Bournemouth, the question is simple: can these glamour ties be the start of something lasting, or just a one-season adventure?

Brighton and Hearts draw Monaco in Conference League

In the Europa Conference League, Brighton are back for only the second European campaign in their history, having beaten Tromso in qualifying to reach the group stage.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side have been handed a standout home tie against Monaco, one of the competition’s heavyweights. They also face a testing trip to Greece to play Panathinaikos and another tricky away day at LaLiga side Getafe. Their other fixtures see them meet Universitatea Craiova, Kauno Zalgiris and Jablonec.

Hearts, owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, have also drawn Monaco at Tynecastle, a glamour night for the Scottish Premiership club. They will travel to Pafos, Trabzonspor and Thun, and host Borac and Nordsjaelland in a schedule that mixes prestige with potential pitfalls.

Trabzonspor bring star power of their own, with Mohamed Salah in their ranks and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on loan, adding extra intrigue to Hearts’ campaign.

Conference League fixture list

The Conference League league phase is compact but intense:

• 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 there, the knockout rounds will shape who turns promising autumn nights into a genuine shot at silverware.

For Sunderland at the San Siro, Bournemouth under the lights, Brighton chasing a statement win over Monaco and Hearts staring down Salah’s Trabzonspor, the stage is set. Now it’s a matter of who can turn a glamorous draw into a deep run.