AC Milan met 8 rivals in the league phase of the European League on 28 August: Benfica, Ferencváros, Sunderland and Ararat-Armenia at home, and Olympiakos, Salzburg, Bournemouth and Lewski Sofia on trips. Lech Poznań and Jagiellonia Białystok will besides play after 8 meetings. For Polish clubs it is simply a hard athletics and financial test.
AC Milan with Benfica and 2 English clubs
The draw was held on Friday 28 August in Monaco. UEFA has assigned 8 opponents to each European League participantTwo of each basket. 4 games will be held at home, 4 away.
AC Milan will take Benfica, Ferencváros, Sunderland and Ararat-Armenia. He will play on trips with Olympiakos, Salzburg, Bournemouth and Lewski Sofia. The most attention is drawn to clashes with Benfica and English clubs. In this phase there is no longer area for long entry into the season. Each lost point affects the position in 1 table of 36 teams.
The Mexicans join the cups under the leadership of Rúben Amorim. Around the squad there is besides a conflict for the right quality of the staff, as illustrated by Milanu treatments about Gonçalo Inácio. The club's name is respectful, but in the fresh strategy the reputation does not give points. You gotta get them on the field from mid-September to late January.
Lech Poznań hit strong brands
Lech Poznań will play at home with Bayer Leverkusen, Ferencváros, Sunderland and Torreense. The departures await the Polish champion to Benfici, Union Saint-Gilloise, Crystal Palace and OFI Crete. It's a demanding set. There are clubs from the leading leagues, but besides opponents, with whom the Polish champion has a work to fight equally.
For Lech, the European fall means prestige, influence and points to the UEFA ranking. The position of the full Extraclass is besides at stake. Regular promotions of Polish teams translate into an easier way to the cups in the following seasons, i.e. real money and greater opportunities for improvement of national clubs.
Jagiellonia before the English test
Jagiellonia Białystok will take Olympique Lyon, Anderlecht, Crystal Palace and Ararat-Armenia. On trips he will face Olympiakos, Viktoria Pilzno, Sunderland and Lewski Sofia. The Belarusians got a hard set, especially in the first 3 baskets.
Polish fan has the right to anticipate ambition, but the evaluation must be realistic. Lyon, Crystal Palace or Olympiakos have larger budgets. There are no financial differences. However, they can be restricted by the organization of the game, physical preparation and courage. European trophies are a test of seriousness for Polish clubs, not a tour of celebrated stadiums.
How the League Phase Works
There are 36 teams in the League of Europe. The first 8 is promoted straight to the 1/8 final. Teams from 9-24 seats will play in two-game barracks, and teams classified from 25 positions down will fall off the games. UEFA is scheduled to announce the exact dates and times of meetings by 30 August at the latest.
League phase matches were scheduled from 16 September 2026 to 28 January 2027. The final will be held on May 26, 2027 in Frankfurt. For Lech and Jagiellonia, the goal should be clear: stay in the game after January and collect points that will work for the future of the Polish ball.
Sources: UEFA, AC Milan, Lech Poznan.
