Sunderland and Bournemouth Draw AC Milan in Europa League

Sunderland will travel to face AC Milan in the Europa League as the Black Cats prepare for their first European campaign since 1973. Bournemouth were also paired with the seven-time European champions, but will meet Milan at home. BBC Sport reported the assignments following Friday’s league-phase draw.

Watch the highlights:

The draw gives Sunderland a high-profile San Siro trip after the club finished seventh in the Premier League last season. Their schedule also includes a home match against AZ Alkmaar, home and away meetings with Anderlecht, and fixtures against GNK Dinamo, Jagiellonia, Lech Poznan, Levski Sofia and Torreense. The Milan match stands out as Sunderland’s return to continental competition after more than five decades.

Bournemouth are entering European competition for the first time. Alongside their home date with Milan, the Cherries will travel to Real Sociedad, Sparta Prague, Celta Vigo and Lillestrom. Their home assignments also include Viktoria Plzen, Sturm Graz and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, giving the club a varied first continental schedule across several European leagues.

Crystal Palace, last season’s Conference League winners, were handed a Europa League slate featuring Real Sociedad at home and Lyon away. Palace are also due to play Sparta Prague, Salzburg, Lech Poznan, Jagiellonia, Hoffenheim and Besiktas as they move into a different UEFA competition following their Conference League success.

Celtic will play Marseille, Benfica and Besiktas among their Europa League opponents. The Scottish Premiership champions dropped into the competition after surrendering a four-goal advantage against LASK in their Champions League play-off tie earlier this week. Their other listed opponents are Ferencvaros, Union Saint-Gilloise, Celta Vigo, Omonia and Torreense.

The Conference League draw also produced notable assignments for Brighton and Hearts. Brighton will host Monaco, Craiova and Kauno Zalgiris, while visiting Panathinaikos, Getafe and Jablonec. Hearts will also host Monaco and are scheduled to travel to Pafos, Trabzonspor and Thun, with home matches against Borac and Nordsjaelland completing the Scottish club’s listed slate.