Bournemouth and Sunderland have both been drawn against seven-time European champions AC Milan in the Europa League league phase, with each English club facing eight opponents this season.
Key takeaways
- Bournemouth will make their first appearance in a European competition after securing sixth place in the previous Premier League campaign.
- Sunderland’s seventh-place finish has taken them back into continental football for the first time since 1973.
- Crystal Palace, the reigning UEFA Conference League champions, will welcome Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim.
- Celtic dropped into the Europa League after losing their Champions League play-off against Austria’s LASK.
- Leverkusen and Juventus are among the leading names in the competition, with Juventus having won the UEFA Cup three times.
English clubs learn their league-phase schedules
Bournemouth’s landmark European campaign will include a home meeting with Milan on England’s south coast. Their side, managed by Marco Rose, will also entertain Viktoria Plzen, Austrian club Sturm Graz and Israeli champions Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
The Cherries have two fixtures in Spain, against Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo. Their away programme also includes a journey to Sparta Prague and a visit to Lillestrom, who lifted the Norwegian Cup last season.
Sunderland’s return to European competition will feature a prestigious trip to Milan’s San Siro. The Black Cats will also travel to Anderlecht, the former UEFA Cup winners.
At home, Sunderland are scheduled to meet AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands, Dinamo Zagreb and Levski Sofia. Their opponents also include Polish clubs Jagiellonia Bialystok and Lech Poznan, while another away assignment will take them to Torreense.
Torreense pulled off a major surprise by winning the Portuguese Cup last season. The club comes from Torres Vedras, a town around 50 kilometres north of Lisbon, but its European fixtures will be staged at the Estadio do Algarve near Faro.
Palace, Celtic and the wider competition
Crystal Palace joined Bournemouth and Sunderland in the third seeding pot after claiming last season’s UEFA Conference League title. Under French head coach Pierre Sage, the South London team will host Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim.
Palace’s away matches are against Lyon, Salzburg and Jagiellonia, followed by a trip to Istanbul to face Besiktas.
Celtic entered the Europa League following a dramatic Champions League play-off defeat by LASK of Austria. The Scottish champions will welcome Marseille and travel to Benfica, while their remaining opponents include Celta Vigo, Besiktas and Torreense.
Other prominent clubs in this season’s field include Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus. The Italian side have won the competition’s predecessor, the UEFA Cup, on three occasions.
