AC Milan and Juventus now know their Europa League league-phase opponents, and Milan’s draw is the one that stands out most. They will face Sunderland and Bournemouth FC, while Juventus were paired with Celta Vigo in a list of eight fixtures.
Milan's eye-catching trips
The Milan draw is the obvious talking point because it brings two English clubs into the same league phase. AC Milan finished fifth in Serie A with 70 points last season, so this is not a side turning up just to make up the numbers. The league phase starts on September 16/17 and ends on January 28, 2027, which leaves Milan with a long stretch to make those trips count.
UEFA will release the full fixture list on Saturday, August 29. That will turn the draw into something concrete, but the headline pair already gives Milan a very different feel from a routine European section.
Juventus' eight opponents
Juventus also got a spread of familiar European opposition. Along with Celta Vigo, they will face Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Rennes, Ferencváros, Omonia, NEC and Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Juventus finished sixth in Serie A with 69 points last season, just one point behind Milan. Their draw is less instantly striking than Milan's, but it still leaves them with a demanding league phase rather than a soft landing.
The Europa League final will be played on May 26, 2027, in Frankfurt. Before that, the next date to circle is August 29, when UEFA publish the fixture list and the route for both Italian clubs becomes clear.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
