Sunderland will face AC Milan in the Europa League this season, the draw confirming a trip to the San Siro as the club marks its first European campaign since 1973. The Black Cats, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season, were handed one of the most high-profile ties in the league phase, drawn against the seven-time European champions in one of their eight scheduled matches.
Bournemouth were also drawn against AC Milan, though the Cherries will host the Italians at home. Bournemouth, who have qualified for European football for the first time, will additionally face Real Sociedad among their eight league-phase fixtures.
Sunderland AC Milan Europa League: How the league phase works
The competition’s league phase sees all clubs play eight matches against different opponents. According to BBC Sport, the top eight sides at the end of the league phase will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a two-legged knockout play-off round. Any side finishing 25th or below will be eliminated entirely from European competition, with no route into any other UEFA tournament.
The Europa League final is scheduled to take place in Frankfurt on 26 May.
Sunderland’s full fixture list for the league phase includes home games against AZ Alkmaar, GNK Dinamo, Anderlecht, Jagiellonia and Levski Sofia, and away trips to AC Milan, Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense.
Bournemouth face AC Milan at home and will travel to Real Sociedad, Sparta Praha and Celta Vigo, among others. Their full list also includes home ties against Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Celtic, Crystal Palace and the wider British picture
Celtic enter the Europa League after being eliminated from the Champions League qualifying rounds, having surrendered a four-goal lead against LASK in the play-off tie. The Scottish Premiership champions face Marseille, Benfica and Besiktas across their eight matches, alongside fixtures against Ferencvaros, Union SG, Celta Vigo, Omonia and Torreense.
Celtic FC will open the league phase with a home tie against Marseille.
Crystal Palace, last season’s Conference League winners, are also in the Europa League. Their draw includes away trips to Lyon and Salzburg, and home games against Real Sociedad, Sparta Praha, Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim, with a further away fixture at Besiktas and Jagiellonia.
In the Conference League, Brighton’s draw features home fixtures against Monaco and Craiova, with away trips to Panathinaikos, Getafe, Jablonec and Kauno Zalgiris.
Hearts will also face Monaco at home and have been drawn away to Trabzonspor (referenced in the draw as Mohamed Salah’s Trabzonspor) alongside games against Pafos, Borac, Nordsjaelland and Thun.
The Conference League final is set to be held in Istanbul, seven days after the Europa League showpiece in Frankfurt.
Full Europa League fixtures for British clubs:
Sunderland: AZ Alkmaar (h), AC Milan (a), GNK Dinamo (h), Anderlecht (h), Anderlecht (a), Jagiellonia (h), Lech Poznan (a), Levski Sofia (h), Torreense (a).
Bournemouth: AC Milan (h), Real Sociedad (a), Viktoria Plzen (h), Sparta Praha (a), Sturm Graz (h), Celta Vigo (a), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (h), Lillestrom (a).
Crystal Palace: Real Sociedad (h), Lyon (a), Sparta Praha (h), Salzburg (a), Lech Poznan (h), Jagiellonia (a), Hoffenheim (h), Besiktas (a).
Celtic: Marseille (h), Benfica (a), Ferencvaros (h), Union SG (a), Celta Vigo (h), Omonia (a), Besiktas (h), Torreense (a).
Conference League fixtures:
Brighton: Monaco (h), Panathinaikos (a), Craiova (h), Getafe (a), Kauno Zalgiris (h), Jablonec (a).
Hearts: Monaco (h), Pafos (a), Borac (h), Trabzonspor (a), Nordsjaelland (h), Thun (a).
