The Uefa Europa League kicks off the first of its bumper matchdays this Thursday 22 October
Each Uefa Europa League group stage matchday will pack in at least 2,160 minutes of football.
There is simply far too much going on for any one person to track but there are some real gems worth tuning in for among the Europa League fixtures on 22 October.
This Group H opener has a taste of old-school European glamour as Celtic prepare for their 11th encounter with seven-time European champions AC Milan.
With love, from Zlats
Celtic boss Neil Lennon knows from experience that his team struggle against Milan: he figured in four of the sides’ past meetings as a player, and two more as a manager, and did not win any: D2 L4.
Zlatan Ibrahimović may well feature for Stefano Pioli’s men fresh off his Milan derby heroics, but despite Celtic’s overall record against Milan (W1 D3 L6), Lennon has hope.
“They’re AC Milan and that name carries a lot of weight around world football, never mind European football,” he said. “But our players will be excited by it. It always brings the best out in them and hopefully we can maximise home advantage.”
North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham both face Austrian sides on opening night: the Gunners visit Rapid Wien while Spurs host LASK.
Granada visit PSV Eindhoven defending a 100% record in UEFA club competitions.
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers will be trying to nail down his best lineup when the Foxes host Zorya Luhansk.
“I still think we have a lot of improvements to make, and we need to nail done some of the details on the field,” Rodgers said.
“I also think it’s about our creative players getting up to speed, fitness-wise. James Maddison is not quite there but getting fitter, Dennis Praet another one. I just think it’ll be a process for us.”
Europa League fixtures – Matchday One
Group A: Young Boys vs Roma (18:55), CSKA Sofia vs CFR Cluj (18:55)
Group B: Dundalk vs Molde (18:55), Rapid Wien vs Arsenal (18:55 CET)
Group C: Leverkusen vs Nice (18:55), Hapoel Beer-Sheva vs Slavia Praha (18:55)
Group D: Standard Liège vs Rangers (18:55), Lech Poznań vs Benfica (18:55)
Group E: PSV Eindhoven vs Granada (18:55), PAOK vs Omonoia (18:55)
Group F: Napoli vs AZ Alkmaar (18:55), Rjieka vs Real Sociedad (18:55)
Group G: Braga vs AEK Athens (21:00), Leicester vs Zorya Luhansk (21:00)
Group H: Celtic vs AC Milan (21:00), Sparta Praha vs LOSC Lille (21:00)
Group I: Villarreal vs Sivasspor (21:00), Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Qarabağ (21:00)
Group J: Tottenham vs LASK (21:00), Ludogorets vs Royal Antwerp (21:00)
Group K: Dinamo Zagreb vs Feyenoord (21:00), Wolfsberg vs CSKA Moskva (21:00)
Group L: Hoffenheim vs Crvena zvezda (21:00), Slovan Liberec vs Gent (21:00)
