Europa League draw RECAP: Celtic, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Palace learn opponents

The Europa League draw takes centre stage 24 hours after the Champions League draw was completed with the Premier League boasting three sides.

Last season's winner came from England's top flight as Aston Villa saw off Freiburg and the Europa Conference League winners from 12 months ago, Crystal Palace , are in the draw by virtue of that success.

Bournemouth , now under new leadership are in Europe for the first time in their history whilst Sunderland, off the back of an incredible first year back in the Premier League, get to enjoy a crack at European football.

English sides have triumphed in each of the last two years with Tottenham lifting the trophy the year prior to Villa. The biggest prize remains a spot in the following season's Champions League.

Celtic, off the back of their embarrassing failure to qualify for Europe's elite competition, are also in the Europa League with former European Cup winners Juventus, AC Milan and Benfica among the heavyweight names. Mirror Football will keep you across the draw.

The Portuguese side, led by Marco Silva, will take on Scottish champions Celtic

The German club will play NO English teams but will take on the likes of Marseille and Lyon.

We'll likely have the customary introduction of players who are doing the draw, the usual admin around who is involved, and then we'll be into it.

As mentioned, there's no English teams in Pot 1 so all of them could have some glamour ties on the cards.

England and France boast three teams - more than any other - in this year's Europa League.

Remember, success in European competitions is ultimately what gives the Premier League a top five - not a top four - of Champions League spots.

Of course Europa League victory nowadays is made all the more desirable by a place in next year's Champions League.

It makes the Thursday - Saturday slog that bit more appealing. And whilst Aston Villa last year, for example, enjoyed a strong league campaign and secured Champions League football by finishing fourth, plenty of teams don't have that luxury.

Tottenham had a dire league campaign in 2025 but landed a Champions League spot. Sevilla have, on numerous occasions, benefited by winning the Europa League having finished mid-table in La Liga.