Europa League Draw: Bournemouth and Sunderland Land Blockbuster Clashes with AC Milan

English clubs Bournemouth and Sunderland have secured high-profile matchups against AC Milan as part of their eight fixtures following Friday's Europa League league phase draw.

Making their debut in a continental tournament after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season, Bournemouth will host seven-time European champions Milan on the south coast of England. Managed by Marco Rose, the team will also play home fixtures against Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz, and Hapoel Beersheba. Their away trips include matches against Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Sparta Prague, and Lillestrom.

Sunderland earned their first European campaign since 1973 following a seventh-place Premier League finish, giving their fans an upcoming trip to San Siro. They will also visit Anderlecht, host AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, and Levski Sofia, and face Polish opponents Jagiellonia Bialystok and Lech Poznan. Additionally, they travel to face Torreense, the Portuguese second-division side and surprise winners of last season’s Portuguese Cup, who will host European games at the Estadio do Algarve.

Crystal Palace, winners of last season’s UEFA Conference League, join the competition in the third pot of seeds. Led by Pierre Sage, the South London club hosts Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan, and Hoffenheim, while traveling to play Lyon, Salzburg, Jagiellonia, and Besiktas.

Celtic enter the Europa League after a playoff defeat to LASK. The Scottish champions host Marseille and travel to face Benfica, alongside matches against Celta Vigo, Besiktas, and Torreense. Other notable contenders include Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus.

UEFA will announce fixture dates over the weekend, with the opening matches scheduled for September 16 and 17. The final will take place in Frankfurt on May 26, 2027, following Aston Villa's triumph over Freiburg in last season's Istanbul final.

Meanwhile, Brighton and Hove Albion represent the Premier League in the Conference League, featuring a marquee home match against Monaco alongside fixtures against Universitatea Craiova, Kauno Zalgiris, Panathinaikos, Getafe, and Jablonec. Scottish side Hearts will host Monaco and travel to face Trabzonspor and Thun. The Conference League final is set for June 2, 2027, in Istanbul.