Anderlecht vs Lyon
Venue: Lotto Park
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 16, 2026 9.00pm
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Navigating through three qualifying rounds with five wins and three consecutive three-goal home performances at Lotto Park, Anderlecht enter the League Phase carrying formidable continental momentum and the sharp form of Danylo Sikan, who has netted five goals in six European outings. However, the Belgian hosts face a significant step up in class against French powerhouses Lyon, who pivot to this competition as leading title contenders following their heartbreaking Champions League play-off elimination by Fenerbahçe. While Anderlecht must contend with a weakened backline missing long-term casualties Lucas Hey and Killian Sardella, Pierre Sage's side arrive on a three-match unbeaten Ligue 1 streak with a solidified centre-back pairing of Moussa Niakhaté and Felix Bacher; despite losing Malick Fofana late in the window, Les Gones' creative foundation around Pavel Šulc gives them the technical edge to breach Anderlecht’s fortress.
AC Milan vs Benfica
Venue: San Siro
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 16, 2026 9.00pm
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A historically rich and emotionally charged contest unfolds at San Siro as undefeated AC Milan manager Rúben Amorim and striker Gonçalo Ramos face their former club Benfica in a renewal of the 1963 and 1990 European Cup finals. Amorim’s Rossoneri have displayed commendable grit in Serie A by fighting back for draws against Lazio and Juventus, with 41-year-old Luka Modrić poised to orchestrate within a balanced 3-4-2-1 setup in his first non-Champions League continental match since 2011. Conversely, Marco Silva’s Benfica arrive in blistering domestic form riding a seven-match winning streak across all competitions, led by the lethal Vangelis Pavlidis, who already boasts 14 goals between league play and qualifying. Nonetheless, with right-back Alexander Bah sidelined through a shoulder injury and historical precedent firmly on the hosts' side—Benfica have never defeated Milan in six competitive meetings—the Portuguese visitors face an uphill battle to escape Milan with maximum points.
Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar
Venue: Stadium of Light
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 16, 2026 8.00pm
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The Stadium of Light prepares for an emotional milestone as Sunderland host their first European fixture on home soil since 1973, looking to translate last term's remarkable seventh-place Premier League finish onto the continental stage under Régis Le Bris. While the Black Cats have endured mixed domestic fortunes and will miss injured duo Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle, the availability of Reinildo Mandava alongside the high-level experience of Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey provides essential physical ballast. They welcome an AZ Alkmaar side flying high in second place in the Eredivisie after an unbeaten league start, yet the Cheese Farmers are severely depleted in central areas by the absence of key playmaker Kees Smit and carry a dismal historical record in England (just three wins from 22 European attempts), offering Sunderland an ideal platform to assert themselves with high-tempo, physical counter-pressing.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Celje
Venue: BayArena
Local Kick-off Time: Sep 16, 2026 9.00pm
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Carles Martínez Novell’s Bayer Leverkusen will view Wednesday’s BayArena curtain-raiser as a prime opportunity to assert their dominance against Slovenian champions Celje, who arrive in complete turmoil following the abrupt departure of manager Vítor Campelos on Monday after irreconcilable differences with the board. Die Werkself have been relentless in the attacking third, scoring at least twice in each of their last four matches behind the midfield orchestration of Aleix García and Equi Fernández, while protecting a fortress that has seen just two home defeats across 2026. By contrast, Celje have dropped four of their last five competitive matches and will also miss suspended midfielder Andrej Kotnik, leaving the managerless underdogs severely outgunned against Patrik Schick, Ibrahim Maza, and Leverkusen’s relentless attacking pressure.
