Benfica will face AC Milan at San Siro in the highlight of their Europa League regular phase campaign following the draw held in Monaco.
The Portuguese club face a theoretically accessible path to the round of 16, with fixtures against AZ Alkmaar, Celtic, Viktoria Plzen, Lech Poznan, Omonia, OFI Crete and NEC completing their eight-match schedule.
The encounter against AC Milan carries additional significance for Benfica president Rui Costa, who played as a midfielder for the Italian side between 2001 and 2006. Milan are managed by Ruben Amorim and feature Portuguese forward Gonçalo Ramos in their squad.
Benfica seek first victory against Milan
Benfica and AC Milan have met six times in European competition, with the Lisbon side failing to win any of those fixtures, recording four losses and two draws. Their historic meetings include two European Cup final defeats for Benfica in the 1962-63 and 1989-90 seasons.
Torreense prepare for European debut
Portuguese side Torreense will make their debut in European competition with fixtures against Olympiacos, Real Sociedad, Celtic, Ferencváros, Sunderland, Lech Poznan, Ararat Armenia and Lillestrom.
Real Sociedad, featuring winger Gonçalo Guedes, and English club Sunderland represent the most formidable opponents on paper for the Torres Vedras team. Olympiacos present another significant test, featuring a Portuguese contingent including Chiquinho, Gustavo Sá, Gelson Martins and Jota Silva.
Torreense will also encounter a familiar face in Ararat Armenia manager Manuel Tulipa. The Portuguese coach led Torreense during the 2023-24 season, taking charge for 21 matches and finishing seventh in the II Liga with eight victories before stepping down at the end of that campaign.
Due to stadium requirements, Torreense will host their home European fixtures at the stadium in Leiria rather than their home ground in Torres Vedras.
Torreense sporting director sets ambitious goals
Torreense sporting director André Sabino said after the draw that being present in the competition filled the club with pride. Sabino noted that while every opponent would pose a challenge, facing major clubs would keep team motivation sky-high.
He added that the club intended to compete, showcase what brought them to this stage, and count up their points at the end of the phase.
Europa League regular phase format
The first matchday of the regular phase is scheduled for September 16 and 17, with the full fixture calendar set to be released today.
Under the competition structure, the top eight teams in the standings will qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th place will contest a two-legged play-off to secure a spot in the round of 16, while teams finishing from 25th to 36th place will be eliminated from European competition.
