Europa League Draw: Celtic, Beer Sheva, and NEC Add to Milan’s Watchlist

FolioPitch.com – 27 August 2026 | With just two days remaining before the UEFA Europa League league phase draw, AC Milan are finalizing their list of potential opponents. Among the most intriguing names dropping into the competition are Celtic, Hapoel Beer Sheva, and NEC Nijmegen. As the GdS Celtic Beer Sheva and NEC drop into Europa League the teams for Milan to look out for, the competition is set to become even more challenging.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan and Juventus are in Pot 1 for Friday’s draw, alongside other European heavyweights. The draw will determine the opponents for the league phase, and the GdS Celtic Beer Sheva and NEC drop into Europa League the teams for Milan to look out for, making the path to the knockout rounds potentially tricky.

Pot 1 and Early Certainties

Seventeen teams have already secured their spots, with 19 more to be decided through Champions League playoffs and Europa League playoffs. In Pot 1, alongside the two Italian clubs, are Olympiacos Piraeus, Bayer Leverkusen, and AZ Alkmaar. These are all dangerous sides, but the real threats could come from the teams that are not yet placed.

Celtic, Real Sociedad, Marseille, and Union St. Gilloise are straddling the first and second pots, meaning they could be seeded differently depending on other results. The GdS Celtic Beer Sheva and NEC drop into Europa League the teams for Milan to look out for, and these clubs represent a mix of experience and unpredictability.

Potential Opponents in Lower Pots

In the second and third pot range, teams like Sparta Prague, Rennes, Sturm Graz, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Sunderland could all be drawn against Milan. Meanwhile, between the third and fourth pots are Celta Vigo, Hoffenheim, Hapoel Beer Sheva, NEC Nijmegen, and Torreense. Each of these has the quality to cause an upset, and the GdS Celtic Beer Sheva and NEC drop into Europa League the teams for Milan to look out for, highlighting that there are no easy matches in this competition.

Champions League Drop-Offs

Seven teams will be ‘relegated’ from the Champions League playoff round to the Europa League. The first-leg results show how tight these ties are:

• Celje vs. Slovan Bratislava (1-1)
• AEK Athens vs. Levski Sofia (0-0)
• Lyon vs. Fenerbahce (1-1)
• Viking vs. Dinamo Zagreb (2-2)

The second legs are scheduled for tonight and tomorrow, and the losers will add another layer of difficulty to Milan’s group stage.

Europa League Playoff Deciders

The 12 winners of the Europa League playoffs will also advance. The return legs all take place on Thursday, and the ties are currently poised as follows:

• Iberia vs. Jagiellionia (0-4)
• Ararat Armenia vs. Universitatea Craiova (1-1)
• Viktoria Plzen vs. Red Star Belgrade (0-3)
• RB Salzburg vs. Mjallby (1-0)
• Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Besiktas (0-3)
• Lillestrom vs. Egnatia (0-0)
• Omonia Nicosia vs. St. Truidense (0-1)
• Thun vs. Lech Poznan (0-7)
• CSKA Sofia vs. Ofi Crete (0-3)
• Aarhus vs. Benfica (1-3)
• Anderlecht vs. Kairat Almaty (3-0)
• Ferencvaros vs. Trabzonspor (1-0)

Some of these playoff ties are already effectively decided, while others remain in the balance. Milan will be hoping that the strongest teams advance, as that could affect their pot placement and the overall quality of the league phase.

What This Means for Milan

For Milan fans, the upcoming draw is a moment of high anticipation. The Rossoneri are looking to go deep in Europe this season, and avoiding the most dangerous sides will be crucial. With the GdS Celtic Beer Sheva and NEC drop into Europa League the teams for Milan to look out for, the message is clear: no opponent can be underestimated, and every match will require maximum concentration.

In conclusion, the Europa League draw promises to be a thrilling event, with many high-profile teams potentially crossing paths. AC Milan, as a Pot 1 club, have the advantage of being seeded, but they must remain wary of the dark horses. The names of Celtic, Beer Sheva, and NEC, among others, will undoubtedly feature in Milan’s scouting reports, and the Rossoneri will need to be at their best to navigate the league phase successfully.