Sunderland Faces AC Milan in Europa League, Bournemouth's Debut Match

Sunderland’s long wait for European nights has been rewarded with one of the grandest stages of all. Fifty-three years after their last venture into continental competition, they will walk out at San Siro to face AC Milan in the Europa League.

Bournemouth, making their European debut, will not have to wait long for a glamour tie either. The Serie A heavyweights are coming to the south coast.

The league-phase draws for both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League were made on Friday, setting out a packed schedule between September 2026 and January 2027. Europa League clubs will play eight matches, four home and four away. Conference League sides face six, split evenly home and away.

British sides’ Europa League routes

Celtic, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace all now know the scale of the task ahead.

Celtic have a demanding Europa League slate. They will host Marseille and travel to Marco Silva’s Benfica, two fixtures that leap off the page in a run of eight games that also includes Ferencvaros (H), Union SG (A), Celta Vigo (H), Omonia (A), Besiktas (H) and Torreense (A).

Sunderland’s return to Europe is laced with nostalgia and jeopardy. AC Milan away is the standout, but their campaign is packed: AZ Alkmaar (H), GNK Dinamo (H), Anderlecht (A), Jagiellonia (H), Lech Poznan (A), Levski Sofia (H) and Torreense (A) complete a varied and testing list.

For Bournemouth, the first-ever European adventure starts with a statement fixture. AC Milan visit the Vitality Stadium, a tie that will frame their campaign. They also face Real Sociedad (A), Viktoria Plzen (H), Sparta Prague (A), Sturm Graz (H), Celta (A), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (H) and Lillestrom (A).

Crystal Palace, fresh from lifting last season’s Europa Conference League, step up a level with a schedule that underlines their new status. They will host LaLiga side Real Sociedad and travel to Lyon, with Sparta Prague (H), Salzburg (A), Lech Poznan (H), Jagiellonia (A), Hoffenheim (H) and Besiktas (A) rounding out a heavyweight run.

Europa League key dates

The new league phase stretches across the heart of the season:

• 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 picture takes shape:

• 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)

One of these British sides could be walking out in Frankfurt with a European trophy on the line.

Brighton and Hearts learn Conference League fate

In the Europa Conference League, Brighton and Hearts have been handed intriguing, and at times daunting, assignments.

Brighton are back in Europe for only the second time in their history after beating Tromso in qualifying. Fabian Hurzeler’s team face their toughest league-phase test at home to Monaco, a Ligue 1 side with serious pedigree. The draw also sends them on awkward away trips to Panathinaikos in Greece and Getafe in Spain, with Universitatea Craiova (H), Kauno Zalgiris (H) and Jablonec (A) completing their schedule.

Hearts, owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, will also welcome Monaco to Edinburgh in a tie that instantly elevates their campaign. Their path is varied and eye-catching: Pafos (A), Borac (H), Trabzonspor (A), Nordsjaelland (H) and Thun (A). The meeting with Trabzonspor carries extra star power, with Mohamed Salah and on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana among the names on the Turkish club’s books.

Conference League calendar

The Conference League league phase is more compact but no less 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

By mid-December, Brighton and Hearts will know whether these nights against Monaco and the rest are a brief European chapter or the start of something far more enduring.