Europa League: Juventus face two Spanish sides, Milan two English ones

Milan, Juventus and Atalanta have found out who their opponents will be in Europe this year. The draw is slightly more challenging for the Rossoneri and decidedly more manageable for the Bianconeri in the Europa League, as it is for Atalanta in the Conference League. The three Italian sides are among the favourites to lift the trophy, but they will have to prove it on the pitch, because – particularly in Europe – pitfalls are always just round the corner. In the Europa League, Italia has consistently been a major force in recent years, with Atalanta’s victory and Roma’s run to the final. Milan and Juve are determined not to be outdone. The competition kicks off on 16–17 September with the first round of matches, whilst the final will be played on 26 May 2027 in Frankfurt.

In the Europa League group stage, Ruben Amorim’s Milan will face Portuguese side Benfica, Hungarian side Ferencvaros, English side Sunderland and Armenian side Ararat-Armenia at home. Away from home, Modric and his team-mates will face Greek side Olympiacos, Austrian side Salzburg, English side Bournemouth and Bulgarian side Levski Sofia. The biggest threats come from Benfica and the two Premier League sides, but watch out also for Olympiacos and Salzburg, two teams accustomed to competing in the Champions League. “Even though there will be stronger opponents, this year we’ll do everything we can to be the strongest in Italia and in the world, just like Baresi’s Milan,” commented Daniele Massaro in the immediate aftermath of the draw, in his first appearance as a Milan director. “Manager Amorim is explaining every day what Milan is all about, and the team has made a good start. We know some of the teams in this group, others less so. We’ll have time to analyse them to prepare for each match,” he added.

On paper, it’s a decidedly easier draw for Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus, who will face the formidable Spanish side Real Sociedad, the French side Rennes, the Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia and the Dutch side NEC at home. Away from home, however, Yildiz and his team-mates will face the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, the Hungarian side Ferencváros, the Spanish side Celta Vigo and the Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva. “It’s hard to make sense of this draw; we’ve been drawn against two Spanish sides, but the aim is to progress. We’ve avoided some tricky away fixtures; now we must prove on the pitch that we deserve our place,” commented Giorgio Chiellini, a Juventus director, immediately after the draw. “Both we and Milan have a responsibility to achieve a result that will also allow us to compete for an extra place in the Champions League. We are two teams that care deeply about this and are well aware of the difficulties of the matches, even in the league,” added the former defender.

Atalanta have also learnt who their opponents will be in the group stage of the 2026/27 Conference League. La Dea, who went into the draw in Monaco as the top seed after progressing from the final qualifying round by eliminating Apoel Tel Aviv, will face Ajax, Pafos, Borac, Kairat Almaty, Riga and Mjallby.