Bayer Leverkusen will face two French clubs in the league phase of the Europa League, while TSG 1899 Hoffenheim will face coach Christian Ilzer’s former club. The draw in Monaco resulted in Bayer meeting at home against Olympique Marseille, RB Salzburg, NK Celje from Slovenia and Besiktas Istanbul with national goalkeeper Alexander Nübel.
Away from home, the former champions have to play at Olympique Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb, Lech Poznan and OF Heraklion. “It is a sportingly challenging journey through Europe,” said Leverkusen’s sports director Simon Rolfes after the draw: “We are extremely motivated going into this competition, on which we are placing a particular focus this season.”
League rival Hoffenheim welcomes the club with which Ilzer became Austrian champions in 2024 and ended Salzburg’s dominance in Sturm Graz. Hoffenheim’s sports director Andreas Schicker also has a past in Graz as a former chief scout. “I got WhatsApp messages straight after we were drawn for the game against Sturm Graz,” said Schicker: “I was hoping for it a little bit because you’ll see a lot of familiar faces again.”
Other opponents in Sinsheim are Lyon, Ferencvaros Budapest and Besiktas. The away games take Hoffenheim to OF Heraklion in Crete, Olympiacos Piraeus, Conference League winner Crystal Palace and RSC Anderlecht. In the league phase of the Europa League, each of the 36 participants plays four games at home and away. This season starts with the first matchday on September 16th and 17th. The last game before the knockout phase will take place on January 28, 2027.
The first eight teams in the table qualify directly for the round of 16. In an intermediate round, the clubs ranked 9 to 24 will play for the further round of 16 places with a return leg. The final will take place on May 26, 2027 in Frankfurt.