Sunderland Set for Milan Trip in Europa League Return

Sunderland will travel to San Siro to face Milan in the Europa League after the league-phase draw was made in Monaco on Friday. The Guardian reported that the fixture was the first involving Sunderland to emerge from the draw, giving Regis Le Bris's team a high-profile assignment as the club returns to European competition.

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The trip has particular resonance on Wearside because Newcastle supporters have long taunted their local rivals with chants claiming Sunderland fans would never be seen in Milan. That history has been overtaken by Sunderland's recent rise: Le Bris's side finished seventh in the Premier League last season and beat Newcastle both home and away.

Le Bris described the Milan fixture as a symbol of Sunderland's progress and said the club and its supporters were proud to be in the competition. While acknowledging the local rivalry behind the occasion, the manager stressed that Sunderland's priority would be competing effectively rather than simply celebrating the destination.

The draw also set Sunderland's other seven league-phase opponents. AZ, Dinamo Zagreb, Levski Sofia and Jagiellonia will visit the Stadium of Light. Sunderland's remaining away matches will take them to Anderlecht, Lech Poznan and Torreense, giving the club a varied schedule across the expanded competition.

Sunderland enter that European campaign with several members of the squad tied to new long-term deals. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs, winger Romaine Mundle and forward Wilson Isidor have all signed extensions. Le Bris said their decisions reflected confidence in the club's environment and ambitions, while also confirming that Sunderland remain in the market for a right winger and a striker.

The immediate focus now returns to domestic competition, with Sunderland due to host Fulham on Sunday. The European schedule nevertheless provides a clear marker of how far the club has advanced under Le Bris since his arrival from Brittany two years ago, and the Milan visit will be the standout date for many supporters when the league phase begins.