The Bundesliga clubs 1. FC Union Berlin and SC Freiburg avoid the really big names in the group stage of the Europa League. In Group D, the Berliners meet the Portuguese club Sporting Braga, Sweden’s record champions Malmö FF and the Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. That was the result of the draw on Friday in Istanbul.
Freiburg competes in Group G with the Greek record champions Olympiakos Piraeus, Qarabag Agdam from Azerbaijan and the French representative FC Nantes. A German duel with the English top club Manchester United and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo does not exist for the time being.
Union and Freiburg qualified for the Europa League as fifth and sixth in the Bundesliga last season. The first group matchday takes place on September 8th, the last on November 3rd. The knockout rounds will continue from February. The final is scheduled for May 31, 2023 in Budapest.
Group A: Arsenal FC, PSV Eindhoven, FK Bodö/Glimt, FC Zurich
Gruppe B: Dynamo Kiew, Stade Rennes, Fenerbahce Istanbul, AEK Larnaca
Group C: AS Rome, Ludogorets Razgrad, Betis Sevilla, HJK Helsinki
Group D: Sporting Braga, Malmö FF, 1. FC Union Berlin, Union St. Gillois
Gruppe E: Manchester United, RS San Sebastian, Sheriff Tiraspol, Omonia Nikosia
Group F: Lazio Rome, Feyenoord Rotterdam, FC Midtjylland, SK Sturm Graz
Gruppe G: Olympiakos Piräus, FK Karabach Agdam, SC Freiburg, FC Nantes
Gruppe H: Roter Stern Belgrad, AS Monaco, Ferencváros Budapest, Trabzonspor