Europa League group draw revealed: AC Milan to face Bournemouth and Sunderland

This season's Europa League group stage draw concluded recently, and Bournemouth and Sunderland had quite similar fortunes, with Serie A giants AC Milan appearing in both teams' list of opponents. For Bournemouth, this is the first time in the club's history to step onto the European stage. They will face Milan at home in their opening match, then travel to Spain to meet Real Sociedad. Sunderland will first host AZ Alkmaar at home, then travel away to San Siro to challenge Milan.

Bournemouth's remaining home matches will be against Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz, and Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva; away, they will successively face Real Sociedad, Celta Vigo, Czech side Sparta Prague, and Norway's Lillestrom. Sunderland's last appearance in European competition dates back to the 1973-74 European Cup Winners' Cup, making this return highly significant. Their away trips include challenges against Milan, Anderlecht, Lech Poznan, and Torrense from the Portuguese second division. As for home matches, AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, Jagiellonia, and Levski Sofia will all visit the Stadium of Light.

Crystal Palace's new head coach Pierre Sage will make a special return during the group stage — facing his former club away at Lyon. The French coach managed Lyon from 2023 to 2025. In addition, Crystal Palace must also travel to face Austria's Red Bull Salzburg, Poland's Jagiellonia, and Turkey's Besiktas. As a Conference League-winning coach, Sage will also set up at Selhurst Park to host Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Lech Poznan, and Hoffenheim in turn.

Celtic, meanwhile, dropped into the Europa League after losing to Austria's Linz in the Champions League. Martin O'Neill's side will host Marseille, Ferencvaros, Celta Vigo, and Besiktas at home; away, they will play at Benfica, Union Saint-Gilloise, Omonia Nicosia, and Torrense. As for the specific match dates, we will have to wait for the official announcement from the relevant bodies this weekend.