Ian Bendelow says…
There are dream scenarios and there are dream scenarios…and this is a platinum edition banger of a dream scenario.
Before today, I didn’t believe in fate, in things being written in the stars, or karma. But I do now. Let’s get ourselves down to Milan, do what the Mags couldn’t and come away with three points.
As for the others, Anderlecht sticks out. Many ways to get there — a great city, lovely club. Poznan could be spicy, and no doubt we’ll join in with the eponymous dance.
The home games will just
be a pure spectacle, particularly whoever is up first. Because it will mean to much more than just being another European home game: it’ll be a moment for the ages for our city.
In terms of how we might do in the league phase, I suspect worst case scenario eleven or twelve points might be the case. But really, fifteen or sixteen should be achievable and that’ll mean most likely automatic qualification for the next phase.
Whatever happens, we’ll just enjoy it. Haway the Lads!
Ian Clark says…
AC Milan v Sunderland at the San Siro. It just had to be, didn’t it!
Milan, get ready for a Mackem invasion. As for the rest of the draw, it looks decent. Some winnable games at home where the atmosphere should be bouncing and some fun-looking European trips.
Above all, it’s a day to embrace being a Sunderland fan. Sunderland in Europe — bring it on.
Lewis Forbister says…
Could Sunderland’s European adventure have been handed a more historic set of opponents? From Milan to Torreense, the draw offers memories waiting to be made.
When Milan popped up as an opponent for Sunderland, I thought, “You can’t write this”, and I had a gut feeling we would draw them, and happily we have, for three reasons.
AC Milan are one of the most decorated and prestigious clubs in Europe; the 75,817-capacity San Siro is a highly historic and record-breaking stadium, and it makes a certain chant now extinct.
Anderlecht, Lech Poznań and Dinamo Zagreb also pique my interest, as they are deeply steeped in history and tradition, with a combined seventy titles between them, with Anderlecht winning this competition in the 1980s. To add to this, Nilson Angulo is a former Anderlecht player.
Torreense, like Sunderland, had their own fairytale season last campaign. Instead of qualifying for Europe through league position, they impressively won the Taça de Portugal 2 – 1 against Sporting Clube de Portugal, with an emphatic 113th-minute winner which subsequently landed them in the Europa League.
Our last three opponents — Jagiellonia Białystok, Levski Sofia and AZ Alkmaar — all offer intriguing matchups, with Alkmaar reaching the Europa Conference League quarter-finals a few years ago.
So, as the Lads embark on this historic campaign, I wish them all the luck in the world as they spread their magic across the continent.
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Malc Dugdale says…
This is the stuff of dreams.
Away days in Milan, Portugal, Poland and Belgium. Home ties against decent sides who we can really have a go at, fill the stadium to the rafters and scream until our throats are hoarse for the Lads to make the absolute most of this. I can’t wait.
A few years ago, I got a train home from London for work and sat by a Geordie family who were on the way back from Milan.
They were pretty reasonable, to be honest, and could’ve given me way more stick, but they spent a good hour with a smug look on their faces and took great pride in looking down at us Mackems plodding about in League One.
This time, the smugness is ours and I’ll be looking for that same family every time I travel to London across this season.
The funny thing is I won’t say a thing: I’ll just smile in pure joy, because this is the pinnacle of my Sunderland fandom and I can’t wait to drink it all in.
Europe…brace yourself.
Mark Ryan says…
Loved being able to be at the Fans’ Museum and hear the cheers when Milan came up — an incredible way to start my first trip to Sunderland.
All in all, it seems about as perfect as you can get. Are the home opponents a little ‘lacklustre’? Yes, but it seems set up perfectly for us to advance, and perhaps more importantly, not tax the squad as much.
Matthew Donne says…
After Milan (A), I wasn’t overly fussed about the rest of the draw — watching European football was it for me.
That said, what an absolutely fantastic draw it was! AZ Alkmaar in Pot One was arguably one of the ‘easier’ draws and there are several favourable match ups throughout the remaining fixtures.
Not only do we get to enjoy European football on Wearside, but I feel like we can hope for a positive European campaign. It’s the hope that kills us, right?
Owen Sara says…
It’s absolute perfection that we drew Milan away — the icing on the cherry in the cake for the last two and a half years.
Lech Poznan will be a great away trip and we should get a hefty allocation. Torrense away should be canny as well. We have very winnable teams at home too, especially Levski Sofia and Jagiellonia.
Looking forward to the atmosphere created by Lech Poznan.
