The recent draws for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League have set the stage for a series of intriguing fixtures involving several British clubs. Sunderland, making a historic return to European competition after a 53‑year absence, have been drawn away to Italy’s storied AC Milan in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Bournemouth, embarking on their inaugural European campaign, will welcome the same Italian giants at home.
These match‑ups were confirmed on Friday when UEFA conducted the league‑phase draws for both tournaments. The Europa League will feature a total of eight matchdays for each participating club, with an even split of four home games and four away games. These fixtures will be spread across the period from September 2026 to January 2027. The Conference League follows a slightly shorter format, offering six matches per side – three at home and three away – within the same overall window.
Both competitions will then progress to knockout phases later in the spring of 2027. Sunderland’s journey back to Europe is a landmark moment for the club and its supporters. The Black Cats will travel to the iconic San Siro stadium to face AC Milan, a club with a rich pedigree of European success.
The draw also places Sunderland against a range of other opponents throughout the group stage, including AZ Alkmaar (home), GNK Dinamo Zagreb (home), Anderlecht (away), Jagiellonia Białystok (home), Lech Poznań (away), Levski Sofia (home) and Torreense (away). This diverse slate of opponents will test Sunderland’s tactical flexibility and squad depth as they seek to make a strong impression on the continental stage. Bournemouth’s maiden voyage into European football sees them hosting AC Milan at the Vitality Stadium. In addition to the Italian heavyweight, the Cherries will also face Real Sociedad in an away fixture, as well as a series of matches against Viktoria Plzeň (home), Sparta Prague (away), Sturm Graz (home), Celta Vigo (away), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (home) and Lillestrøm (away).
These games promise a blend of tactical styles, from the technical Spanish side to the physically demanding Central European clubs, offering Bournemouth a valuable learning experience. In the Europa League, Scottish giants Celtic will host Olympique de Marseille before traveling to face Benfica under the guidance of Marco Silva. Their group also includes Ferencváros (home), Union Saint‑Gilloise (away), Celta Vigo (home), Omonia Nicosia (away), Beşiktaş (home) and Torreense (away).
Celtic’s schedule illustrates the breadth of competition, pitting them against teams from France, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey and Portugal again, demanding adaptability and consistency. Crystal Palace, the defending Conference League champions, have drawn a challenging group as well. They will host La Liga side Real Sociedad and travel to face Olympique Lyonnais. Their remaining fixtures comprise Sparta Prague (home), Red Bull Salzburg (away), Lech Poznań (home), Jagiellonia Białystok (away), Hoffenheim (home) and Beşiktaş (away).
Palace will be looking to retain their title by navigating a group that mixes technical Spanish football with the high‑pressing styles of Austrian and German clubs. The schedule for the Europa League group stage is as follows: Matchday 1 on 16‑17 September, Matchday 2 on 15 October, Matchday 3 on 22 October, Matchday 4 on 5 November, Matchday 5 on 26 November, Matchday 6 on 10 December, Matchday 7 on 21 January 2027, and Matchday 8 on 28 January 2027. The knockout phase will commence with play‑offs on 18 & 25 February 2027, followed by the round of 16 in March, quarter‑finals in April, semi‑finals at the end of April and early May, and the final set for 26 May 2027 at Stadion Frankfurt in Germany.
Brighton & Hove Albion are also back in Europe, this time in the Conference League after defeating Tromsø in the qualifying rounds. The Seagulls will face a demanding group that includes a home fixture against Monaco, an away trip to Panathinaikos, and additional games versus Universitatea Craiova (home), Getafe (away), Kauno Žalgiris (home) and Jablonec (away). Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, acknowledges that the group stage will be their toughest test yet, given the mix of French, Greek and Spanish opposition.
Hearts, the Scottish Premiership side owned by Brighton chief Tony Bloom, share a similar path. They will host Monaco at Tynecastle and travel to face Trabzonspor, a team featuring Manchester United’s loan goalkeeper André Onana. Their full group list includes Pafos (away), Borac Banja Luka (home), Trabzonspor (away), Nordsjælland (home) and Thun (away).
The Scottish clubs will need to balance domestic commitments with the rigors of European travel. The Conference League’s match calendar mirrors that of the Europa League, with six matchdays: the first on 15 October, the second on 22 October, the third on 5 November, the fourth on 26 November, the fifth on 10 December and the sixth on 17 December.
The knockout phase will follow the same February play‑off dates, with subsequent rounds leading to a final on 2 June 2027 at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Turkey. Fans of the British clubs can catch all of these fixtures via the Sky Sports app, which offers live streaming for subscribers. Those without a Sky subscription have the option to purchase instant access without a long‑term contract, ensuring that supporters can follow their teams throughout the European adventure.
Overall, the draws have produced a compelling mix of historic powerhouses and emerging clubs, promising a season of high‑stakes football across the continent. British teams will have the chance to test themselves against some of Europe’s most respected sides, while also gaining invaluable experience that could boost their domestic performances. The upcoming weeks will reveal which clubs can translate their ambitions into results on the European stage.