Europa League Draw: Marseille, Lyon Face Leverkusen; Rennes to Play Juventus

The draw for the Europa League group stage, held in Monaco, has revealed the opponents for the three French clubs participating in the competition, setting the stage for several high-profile matches.

Olympique Marseille (OM) and Olympique Lyon (OL) will both face German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen. Lyon, who narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot after losing their playoff match, will also compete against Olympiacos and Crystal Palace. Their journey in the Europa League will see them travel to face Real Sociedad, Anderlecht, Hoffenheim, and Jagiellonia, while hosting Union Saint-Gilloise and Lillestrom.

For OM, the draw presents a challenging path, including fixtures against Olympiacos, Anderlecht, Celta Vigo, and Levski Sofia, with away games against Leverkusen, Celtic Glasgow, Sturm Graz, and Besiktas. Despite avoiding Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan, Marseille faces a demanding schedule.

Stade Rennais, returning to European competition after a two-year hiatus, has been placed in a group that includes a formidable Juventus Turin. Their other opponents will be Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb, Sparta Prague, Omonia Nicosia, Sturm Graz, OFI Crete, and NEC Nijmegen. The first matchday of the Europa League is set for September 16-17, and the final will take place in Frankfurt on May 26, 2027. Last year's champions, Aston Villa, defeated Freiburg to claim the trophy.