Europa League
The Europa League dominates this midweek window with a massive slate of fixtures spread across Wednesday and Thursday evenings. AC Milan vs Benfica is the standout fixture among the Wednesday Europa League matches. Also at that 21:00 kick-off on Wednesday, Bayer Leverkusen vs Celje and Anderlecht vs Lyon are among the Europa League fixtures, with Sunderland vs AZ Alkmaar also on the Wednesday bill. Sturm Graz vs Rennes, Olympiakos Piraeus vs Jagiellonia, and Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Dinamo Zagreb complete the 21:00 Wednesday programme.
The earlier 18:45 Wednesday slots bring Ararat-Armenia vs Sparta Praha and Omonia Nicosia vs Celta Vigo, with the Spanish side facing what could be a tricky away assignment in Cyprus.
Thursday’s Europa League action begins at 18:45 with Levski Sofia vs Red Bull Salzburg and OFI vs 1899 Hoffenheim. Then at 21:00 the competition delivers another strong set of games: Beşiktaş vs Marseille is the pick of the Thursday evening fixtures, a tie with genuine bite on both sides. Celtic vs Ferencvarosi TC, Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznan, Juventus vs NEC Nijmegen, Real Sociedad vs Bournemouth, Plzeň vs Union St. Gilloise, and Lillestrom vs Torreense round out a busy Thursday night in Europe.
La Liga
La Liga also has a midweek programme running in parallel. On Wednesday at 19:00, Atlético Madrid vs Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruña vs Sevilla both kick off simultaneously. The later 21:30 Wednesday slot features Barcelona vs Racing Santander.
Thursday brings two more La Liga fixtures: Real Betis vs Getafe at 19:00, followed by Málaga vs Villarreal at 21:30.
Milan vs Benfica stands as the headline act, but there is plenty of quality throughout the schedule to keep supporters occupied on both nights.