Europa League matchday 3: Bournemouth host AC Milan, Sunderland chase three from three and Palace go to Beşiktaş
Bournemouth and Sunderland have both won their first two Europa League games. On Thursday night Bournemouth face seven-time European champions AC Milan, Sunderland travel to Lech Poznań and Crystal Palace visit Beşiktaş.
Three Premier League clubs are in Europa League action on Thursday 22 October, and two of them are still perfect. Here is everything you need to know about matchday 3.
The fixtures (UK time)
| Match | Kick-off (UK) | Beijing time |
|---|---|---|
| Lech Poznań v Sunderland | 17:45 | Fri 00:45 |
| Bournemouth v AC Milan | 20:00 | Fri 03:00 |
| Beşiktaş v Crystal Palace | 20:00 | Fri 03:00 |
Bournemouth v AC Milan: the biggest night in their history?
Marco Rose's Bournemouth have made a flying start in Europe, winning 2-1 at Real Sociedad and then 3-0 against Sturm Graz at the Vitality Stadium. Now they host AC Milan, seven-time European champions, in what may be the biggest home game the club has ever played.
Their league form has been patchier: Bournemouth were winless in their first six Premier League games before beating Sunderland 2-0 last weekend. A win over Milan would take them to nine points and put them firmly in the race for the top eight, which brings a place in the round of 16 without a play-off.
Lech Poznań v Sunderland: three from three?
Régis Le Bris's Sunderland have beaten AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at home and Torreense 2-1 away. Their league form is a concern — they are bottom of the Premier League with four points — but Europe has been a welcome escape. Lech Poznań were beaten 4-0 at Selhurst Park by Crystal Palace on matchday 1, which suggests Sunderland have a real chance of a third straight win.
Beşiktaş v Crystal Palace: bouncing back
Pierre Sage's Palace thrashed Lech Poznań 4-0 on matchday 1 but lost 3-2 at Lyon on matchday 2. They arrive in Istanbul after a 5-0 league defeat at Brighton, so this is a test of their response. Beşiktaş's stadium is one of the loudest in Europe.
Celtic in trouble
Celtic, the other British side in the competition, have lost both games — 3-1 at home to Ferencváros and 4-1 at Benfica — and host Celta Vigo.
How the Europa League works
Like the Champions League, the Europa League has a 36-team league phase with eight games each. The top eight go straight into the round of 16, teams finishing 9th to 24th go into a knockout play-off, and the bottom 12 are eliminated. Our Champions League format explainer covers the same system in more detail.
Brighton are in the Conference League, where their next game is on 5 November. Follow all the results on our scores page.
FAQ
Who are Bournemouth playing in the Europa League? AC Milan, at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday 22 October 2026, kick-off 20:00 UK time.
Which English clubs are in the Europa League in 2026-27? Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.
How many teams qualify directly for the Europa League round of 16? The top eight in the league phase table.
